Trump said on Sunday he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting.
“When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!” he wrote on social media.
BOTH SIDES POINT THE FINGER
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country’s Royal Gazette said his public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok’s Grand Palace have been cancelled amid the strife.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed in principle to a truce – but accused each other of undermining armistice efforts and of firing first.
The Thai foreign ministry accused Cambodian forces of firing shells into civilian homes in Surin province.
“Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of “deliberate and coordinated acts of aggression”.
Thailand says eight of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths.
The Thai military said it had returned the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers killed in combat.
The conflict has forced more than 138,000 people from Thailand’s border regions, and 80,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
The Cambodian government has also accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Bangkok has accused Phnom Penh of targeting hospitals.
With the conflict enflaming nationalist sentiments, Thailand issued a warning to its citizens to “refrain from any kind of violence, whether in speech or action” against Cambodian migrants living in the country.
