Latest news with #DiplomaticRelations
CNN
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
How a leaked phone call between a former strongman and a young leader could topple a government
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing increasing pressure to step down, after appearing to criticize the military in a 17-minute leaked phone call she had with Cambodia's powerful former leader over an escalating border dispute. The scandal, which sparked widespread anger in the country, brings fresh uncertainty to a country roiled by years of political turbulence and leadership shake-ups. Paetongtarn, 38, has only held the premiership for ten months after replacing another prime minister who was removed from office. It also comes at a time when the Southeast Asian kingdom is struggling to boost its ailing economy, is negotiating a trade deal with the United States to avoid punishing tariffs, and is embroiled in an escalating border dispute with its neighbor Cambodia that has soured relations to their lowest point in years. Paetongtarn apologized on Thursday and Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Cambodian ambassador to deliver a letter of protest, calling the leak of the private phone call 'a breach of diplomatic etiquette.' 'Thailand views that these actions are unacceptable conduct between states. It contradicts internationally accepted practices and the spirit of good neighborliness' and 'undermined the trust and respect between the two leaders and countries,' a ministry spokesperson said in a statement. In a post on his official Facebook page, Hun Sen said he had shared a recording of the call with about 80 Cambodian officials and suggested one of them may have leaked the audio. The 72-year-old political veteran later posted a recording of the 17-minute call in its entirety. In the leaked call, which took place on June 15, Paetongtarn could be heard calling former Cambodian strongman Hun Sen 'uncle' and appeared to criticize her own army's actions in after border clashes led to the death of a Cambodian soldier last month. Paetongtarn, a relative political newcomer from a powerful dynasty who became Thailand's youngest prime minister last year, appeared to signal there was discord between her government and the country's powerful military. In the call, the Thai prime minister can be heard telling Hun Sen that she was under domestic pressure and urged him not to listen to the 'opposite side,' in which she referred to an outspoken Thai army commander in Thailand's northeast. 'Right now, that side wants to look cool, they will say things that are not beneficial to the nation. But what we want is to have peace just like before any clashes happened at the border,' Paetongtarn could be heard saying. She also added that if Hun Sen 'wants anything, he can just tell me, and I will take care of it.' Her comments in the leaked audio, which was confirmed as authentic by both sides, struck a nerve in Thailand, and opponents accused her of compromising the country's national interests. The Bhumjaithai party, a major partner of the prime minister's government, withdrew from the coalition on Wednesday, dealing a major blow to her Pheu Thai party's ability to hold power. 'Paetongtarn compromised her position as prime minister and damaged Thai national interest by kowtowing to Hun Sen,' said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University. 'Her exit is a matter of time and she could be liable for further charges.' The handling of the border dispute has also stoked nationalist fervor in both countries. In Thailand, conservative forces have called for Paetongtarn to face charges and resign. In Cambodia, thousands of people joined a government-organized rally last week in solidarity with the government and military over the issue. Thailand and Cambodia have had a complicated relationship of both cooperation and rivalry in recent decades. The two countries share a 508-mile (817-kilometer) land border – largely mapped by the French while they occupied Cambodia - that has periodically seen military clashes and been the source of political tensions. Paetongtarn on Wednesday tried to downplay her remarks to Hun Sen, saying at a press conference she was trying to diffuse tensions between the two neighbors and the 'private' call 'shouldn't have been made public.' The prime minister said she was using a 'negotiation tactic' and her comments were 'not a statement of allegiance.' 'I understand now, this was never about real negotiation. It was political theater,' she said. 'Releasing this call… it's just not the way diplomacy should be done.' Hun Sen, the veteran leader who ruled Cambodia with an iron-fist for almost 40 years, stepped down in 2023 and handed power to his son Hun Manet. But he remains a hugely influential figure in Cambodian politics, he currently serves as senate president and is a friend and ally of Paetongtarn's father, the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Tensions between the two neighbors worsened last month, when a Cambodian solider was killed during a brief clash between Thai and Cambodian troops in which both sides opened fire in a contested border area of the Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. Thai and Cambodian forces said they were acting in self-defense and blamed the other for the skirmish. Although military leaders from Thailand and Cambodia said they wished to de-escalate, both sides have since engaged in saber-rattling and reinforced troops along the border. Thailand took control of border checkpoints, imposed restrictions on border crossings and threatened to cut electricity and internet to Cambodia's border towns. Cambodia in return stopped imports of Thai fruit and vegetables and banned Thai movies and TV dramas. Cambodia also filed a request with the UN's International Court of Justice to seek a ruling over disputed border areas with Thailand, including the site of the most recent clash. However, Thailand does not recognize the ICJ's jurisdiction and claims that some areas along the border were never fully demarcated, including the sites of several ancient temples. In 2011, Thai and Cambodian troops clashed in a nearby area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World heritage site, displacing thousands of people on both sides and killing at least 20 people.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
New Zealand Pauses Cook Islands Funding Over China Deal
New Zealand has paused development funding to the Cook Islands after the tiny South Pacific nation signed agreements with China without the expected level of consultation. The strategic partnership agreement signed in February with Beijing includes cooperation on seabed mining and the establishment of diplomatic missions. While the Cook Islands is a self-governing state, it is part of the realm of New Zealand and has a special constitutional relationship with Wellington, its primary development partner.
LBCI
13-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
In pictures: Pope Leo XIV receives Lebanese president and family at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, First Lady Nehmat Aoun, and members of their family at the Vatican in a visit marked by diplomatic and spiritual significance.
Times of Oman
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Reason for India-Australia 'Dosti' is strong leadership of both countries: EAM S Jaishankar
New Delhi: IndianExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister of Australia, Richard Marles on Wednesday. The two leaders participated in the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership here in New Delhi. In a post on X, the EAM said, "Delighted to meet DPM & Defence Minister @RichardMarlesMP this evening in New Delhi. His presence here today as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is testament to the significant strides our ties have made. Discussed the state of the world and our assessments on various issues of mutual interest." In another post on X, EAM Jaishankar noted, "Pleased to join DPM and Defence Minister @RichardMarlesMP at the Australian High Commission today to mark five years of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership." In his speech delivered during the event, EAM Jaishankar extended greetings to Marles and his colelagues on their impressive election victory. He said, "We really appreciate your visit to India in the early days of your second term, just actually as you did as your first term commenced." Noting how the India-Australia ties have grown by leaps and bounds in the last five years, he called the relationship having transformed across various areas. "A decade ago, if I had stood here and told you all that Australia would actually be amongst our closest political friends, our strongest security partners, a country with whom we would have a Free Trade Agreement, whose University would be among the first to actually set up an establishment in India - in fact if I told you that we would have many more things to discuss other than cricket - I don't think any of you would have believed me. And yet, here we are - not just with a transformed relationship, but actually marking 5 years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. And the reason for that - the 'Mateship' or the 'Dosti' - has actually been the strong leadership that we have seen from both countries, the trust and the mutual respect, and today we saw one example of that as the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the strong sense of solidarity and support that we got when the Pahalgam terrorist attack happened, and I recall that the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, despite being in the middle of a very intense election campaign, actually reached out and called Prime Minister Modi to express those sentiments." Jaishankar enlisted several mechanisms established between the two countries, aimed at further deepening and diversifying the cooperation. "We have established the practice of Annual Summits, in fact I think the last few years have seen more meetings between our Prime Ministers than probably we ever had in the 80 years of history before that. We have our 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers' Dialogue, we have Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue, we have a Joint Commission for Trade, for Skills, for Education, for Energy. So when we speak about a strategic partnership today - a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - these are not just words. These are actually a deepening of our cooperation in so many domains which are expressed so productively, and in a way, on the ground , I spoke about the ECTA Trade Agreement, we have a Mobility and Migration Partnership as well, we have the Work and Holiday visa Program, the MATES Program, the Mutual Recognition of Educational Qualifications, and of course as the Deputy Prime Minister said really - a real transformation in areas like Defence, I would even point to energy, as another example. And not the least, we have today a million - strong Indian- Australian community , which is truly a very, very unique bridge between us." In his concluding remarks, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's strong commitment to take the relationship to greater heights. He listed areas of cooperation. "I am here today to reaffirm...a strong commitment to take this relationship to still greater heights, to look at areas like critical minerals, cyber, technology, space, sports as further domains of collaboration, and to work on mechanisms - most of all the Quad, but in the East Asia Summit platforms, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the United Nations, even the trilateral grouping that we have with France."
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Japan Times
Princess Aiko to visit Laos in November as first official foreign trip
Princess Aiko will visit Laos in November, her first official visit overseas, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. According to the agency, Japan received an invitation from Laos this month as the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. After flying to Laos by civil aircraft, the princess will make a courtesy visit to Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith. She will also attend a commemorative anniversary event. The exact date of her trip has yet to be decided. In 2006, the princess, then 4, accompanied her parents, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, on their trip to the Netherlands. When she was a second-year student of Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School in 2018, she studied at Eton College in Britain on a short summer program. Imperial Family members have visited Laos four times, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko in 1999 and Emperor Naruhito in 2012 as crown prince.
