(Dec 29): China took thinly veiled swipes at President Donald Trump’s efforts to end a border clash between Thailand and Cambodia, with Beijing seeking a role as a peacemaker between the Southeast Asian neighbours. Wang held separate talks the same day with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. Trump has portrayed the ceasefire as a US-led success, while China is casting itself as a neutral mediator and implicitly challenging Washington’s narrative of leadership in the region. China provided about US$3 million (RM12.14 million) in aid to Cambodia, the Phnom Penh Post reported. Both the Thai and Cambodian governments and their armed forces likely benefit from taking hard lines against each other.

Source: The Edge Markets December 29, 2025 04:35 UTC