Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva expresses confidence of resolving Thai-Cambodia border dispute through diplomatic channels; Cambodia seeks help from ASEAN member states to resolve the border dispute with Thailand;
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    • Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed confidence of resolving the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute through diplomatic means. However, according to Abhisit, not only both the states must show their sincerity towards peaceful resolution of the dispute but also people of two nations must join hands in easing the tension along the disputed border.1 In the meantime, Cambodia has sought help from the ASEAN member states in resolving the border dispute with Thailand. Vietnam, the current chair of the ASEAN, has already been discussing with fellow member states a proposal for their mediation over the dispute.2

    Vietnam and the United States have stepped up their defence cooperation by holding first high-level defence dialogue. Increasing concerns over China’s military build up seems to have pushed the two former enemies towards each other. While commenting on this development, Robert Scher, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia stated that after fifteen years of normalizing the bilateral relations between the two states, the recent talks represented “the next significant historic step” in their “increasingly robust defence relationship which is based on mutual trust, understanding and respect for independence and sovereignty.” The cooperation will reportedly focus on bilateral issues including unexploded ordnance and herbicides left over from the Vietnam War. The two states are also hopeful about stepping up cooperation sectors like, search-and-rescue, humanitarian and disaster-relief operations, language training, etc.3

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