November 12 2009
By Xu Donghuan
Global Times (China)
In view of rising tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over Phnom Penh's recent appointment of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, two Chinese scholars expressed that, as a friend to both countries, China does not want to see the spat escalate to a serious conflict.
Gu Xiaosong, director at the Southeast Asian Institute of the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times, "China would definitely like the two neighbors to resolve the issue through dialogue."
Cambodia Wednesday rejected Thailand's request to extradite Thaksin, who was toppled in a bloodless coup in 2006 and has been living in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption.
Three Thai diplomats gave extradition papers to Cambodian foreign affairs ministry, but seconds later were handed a formal refusal letter, according to AFP.
"This response letter is enough to tell the foreign affairs ministry of Thailand that there will be no extradition," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a televised press conference with Thaksin at his house near Phnom Penh.
The Cambodian leader added that he would not discuss Thaksin's new advisory role if he meets Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the APEC summit involving regional leaders and US President Barack Obama in Singapore Sunday.
Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors last week as the row escalated.
In Bangkok, Vejjajiva condemned Hun Sen's refusal to send Thaksin back and said that he had halted more aid programs for the neighboring country and tore up an oil and gas exploration deal signed during Thaksin's time in power.
Despite the escalating diplomatic row, the mood remained calm at the frontier and Phnom Penh withdrew an elite paratrooper unit from the area Wednesday morning, a Cambodian commander said.
Song Qingrun, a researcher on Southeast Asia at the Chinese Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times, "China would like to see the two neighbors exercise restraint and caution when dealing with differences."
"If necessary, China will help to prevent any escalation through diplomatic efforts, like it did during the riots in January 2003," Song added.
The January 2003 violence was sparked by Cambodian rumors that a Thai television actress had suggested that Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex, a national symbol, should belong to Thailand.
The riot caused severe damage to the Thai embassy and strained bilateral relations.
Amid the crisis, China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi summoned the ambassadors of Cambodia and Thailand and expressed China's hope to see them resolve the issue peacefully.
Agencies contributed to this story
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