International News 29 July 2025
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Thailand and Cambodia Begin Peace Talks in Malaysia Amid Escalating Border Conflict
Leaders from Thailand and Cambodia met in Malaysia on July 28, 2025, for urgent peace negotiations aimed at resolving a deadly border dispute that has reignited tensions in Southeast Asia. The talks, mediated by ASEAN chair Malaysia, follow a sharp escalation in violence along the contested border, resulting in over 30 deaths and more than 200,000 evacuations. Thai Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet are leading their respective delegations, while US President Donald Trump has warned both sides that continued hostilities could jeopardize future trade deals with Washington. The US also backed Malaysia’s call for an immediate ceasefire. Despite both governments expressing a willingness to negotiate, mutual accusations have continued. Thailand blames Cambodia for targeting civilians, while Phnom Penh accuses Thai forces of shelling historic temple sites and launching ground assaults. Ongoing exchanges of artillery fire have been reported even as talks proceed, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the ceasefire proposals. The conflict centers around long-disputed areas along their 817 km border, particularly near the ancient Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. Although Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, tensions flared again in 2008 after Cambodia’s UNESCO listing attempt, reigniting nationalist sentiments and military clashes.
US-China Trade Talks Resume in Stockholm Amid Looming Tariff Deadline
Senior US and Chinese negotiators met in Stockholm on Monday, July 28, 2025, aiming to extend a fragile tariff truce and avoid another wave of steep duties in the ongoing trade war. With a looming August 12 deadline, the talks—led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng—seek to build on a preliminary June deal that temporarily de-escalated tensions. Failure to reach a sustainable agreement could trigger new tariffs exceeding 100%, threatening global supply chains. While no major breakthrough is expected, analysts anticipate another 90-day extension of the current truce, potentially paving the way for a Trump-Xi summit later this year. The negotiations follow a major US-EU trade deal announced just a day earlier, in which the EU accepted a 15% tariff in exchange for large-scale investments and military purchases from the US. In contrast, US-China talks remain stalled on deeper economic issues, such as rare earth exports, US restrictions on AI chips like Nvidia’s H20, and China’s state-led industrial policies. Washington claims Beijing floods global markets with underpriced exports, while China accuses the US of using national security to curb its tech growth. Experts say the complexity of US-China trade dynamics means a comprehensive resolution remains a distant prospect