China on Thursday dismissed suggestions that its defence cooperation with Cambodia and Thailand has contributed to the ongoing border conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. 

Beijing’s Defence Ministry said its military ties with both nations — including arms sales — are “not aimed at any third party” and have “no connection whatsoever to the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict.”

“We hope relevant parties will refrain from subjective speculation and malicious hype,” the Ministry said, responding to reports that Thai troops had captured Chinese-made weapons from Cambodian positions during renewed clashes along the frontier.

Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared again this week, with Thai forces engaging Cambodian troops near the border in Surin province. Images from the scene showed Thai units firing flares as skirmishes continued on Wednesday.

China urged both countries to work quickly toward halting the violence. “We hope the two sides can reach a ceasefire as soon as possible,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its official social media channel, adding that Beijing “has always advocated for peace and dialogue.” Photo by eric molina, Wikimedia commons.