Thailand and Cambodia begin withdrawing heavy weapons.

(CLO) On November 3, Thailand announced that it and Cambodia have begun withdrawing heavy weapons and conducting demining operations along their disputed border.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Defence , stated that a mine clearance operation has been launched at the border, with 13 areas proposed by Thailand and one area proposed by Cambodia.

He added that the two countries had agreed to gradually withdraw heavy weapons in three phases: first, missile systems; then artillery; and finally tanks and armored vehicles.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 28. Photo: Government of Thailand

Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said Thailand would not release the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, nor reopen border checkpoints, until it assesses Cambodia's compliance with the agreement.

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, the first phase of troop withdrawal is expected to last three weeks, starting on November 1st. "We hope the entire process of withdrawing heavy weapons will be completed before the end of this year," said Surasant.

In addition to reducing their military presence, Thailand and Cambodia are also strengthening cooperation in combating transnational cybercrime and are accelerating the process of demarcating common borders in disputed areas.

The fighting that erupted in July left at least 48 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands on both sides to evacuate. It was considered the most serious border conflict between the two countries in decades. An initial ceasefire brokered by Malaysia, with the participation of the United States, was signed on July 28.

The extended ceasefire agreement, signed in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of US President Donald Trump, came three months after border tensions between the two countries escalated.

Source: https://congluan.vn/thai-lan-va-campuchia-bat-dau-rut-vu-khien-hang-nang-10316409.html