China Urges Calm as Fighting Escalates Between Cambodia and Thailand

BEIJING (Dec.23,2025) — China on Tuesday called for an end to fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, urging both sides to restore peace as clashes intensified along their shared border.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said both countries are important members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and praised the bloc’s mediation efforts, singling out Malaysia’s role.

“China sincerely hopes the fighting will stop and peace will be rebuilt at an early date,” Guo said, adding that stability along the border is in the fundamental interest of people in both nations.

China said it has been actively engaging with both sides since the latest escalation. Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate phone calls with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Both briefed Wang on the situation and said they were prepared to implement a ceasefire.

Beijing also confirmed that its special envoy for Asian affairs, Deng Xijun, is conducting shuttle diplomacy aimed at facilitating dialogue. The ministry said further details of the talks would be released in due course.

Wang said China, as a close neighbor and friend of both countries, did not want to see the dispute escalate into armed confrontation. He expressed sorrow over civilian casualties and warned that the current clashes were more intense than previous incidents, threatening ASEAN unity.

ASEAN foreign ministers, meeting Monday in Kuala Lumpur, called on Cambodia and Thailand to immediately end hostilities and fully implement existing ceasefire agreements.

The bloc said it was “seriously concerned” about continued tensions that have caused casualties, damaged civilian infrastructure and displaced residents on both sides of the border.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said on Dec. 22 that Thai forces continued attacks on civilian areas, alleging shelling and gunfire struck villages, temples and residential zones in multiple provinces.