China sends envoy to Thailand, Cambodia to facilitate talks

KUALA LUMPUR: China has sent its Special Envoy for Asian Affairs to Thailand and Cambodia to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.

Beijing says it has been closely monitoring the ongoing border conflict and is actively working to de-escalate tensions.

Fighting between the neighbours reignited after a skirmish on December 7, killing more than two dozen people so far and displacing more than 800,000 others.

The renewed clashes shattered a ceasefire reached at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, which was overseen by the U.S. and Malaysia, and ended five days of bloody fighting back in July.

China has since dispatched it envoy twice to seek mediation following the collapse of the Peace Accord.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also attempted to intervene, claiming last week that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire beginning Saturday night.

Bangkok, however, has denied that any such agreement was reached.