INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY (26th Jan – 30th Jan. 2026)
| Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro was surprised as she wrapped up a press conference at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. No reporters from the pool asked about the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, which claimed more than a hundred lives. As the Philippines steps into its role as ASEAN Chair, it is wasting no time in exerting diplomatic pressure, urging Cambodia and Thailand to fully honour their commitments to ease tensions along their shared border. https://shorturl.at/Vz4Yc ; The USS Cincinnati arrived at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, marking the first time a U.S. Navy warship has docked at the facility since its Chinese-funded renovation was completed early last year. https://shorturl.at/z2l3Y ; Cambodia has defended its decision to deport Prince Group chairperson Chen Zhi to China, saying the move was lawful, sovereign and based on findings that he had illegally obtained Cambodian nationality. https://shorturl.at/2Cn3k ; Thailand’s caretaker leader takes a pacifist tone in his latest message following a visit to the Thai-Cambodian border, saying neither side poses a threat to the other as long as they both respect the peace declaration. It is a new attitude that sparks both relief and suspicion among analysts as the Thai general election nears. The Secretariat of the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) has wrapped up its special session not with a solution, but with a promise to continue exchanging paperwork |
