Thailand has voiced its concerns to China regarding the recent delivery of military tanks to Cambodia, cautioning that this move might destabilize the delicate ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. This warning follows last year’s violent border conflicts between the two nations. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand addressed the issue during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as confirmed by Thailand’s foreign ministry. Officials have indicated that the timing and nature of this military shipment could further complicate the strained relations between Thailand and Cambodia, which persist despite multiple ceasefire agreements.
Under an existing military cooperation agreement, Cambodia received 39 Chinese-made T-59D battle tanks. Thai authorities noted that there is no current evidence suggesting that these tanks have been positioned near the contentious border. The relationship between the Southeast Asian neighbors remains tense following violent confrontations last year, driven by disputes over land and maritime boundaries that are rooted in historical colonial treaties and maps.
China, maintaining its stance of neutrality, insists that its defense cooperation with both Thailand and Cambodia is standard and not aimed at any third party. Earlier this year, China also supplied Cambodia with a Type 056 guided-missile corvette. Thai officials have expressed appreciation for China’s impartiality and its efforts to ease tensions, reiterating that the ultimate resolution of the dispute lies in direct dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia.
In their discussions, Thailand and China have also agreed to initiate a new dialogue mechanism involving their foreign and defense ministers. This new framework aims to facilitate direct communication, with the first round of talks set to address issues related to combating cross-border scam operations.