Foreign Affairs Minister touts policy of restraintListen to this articleThailand has reaffirmed its policy of "strategic patience" and restraint along the Cambodian border to prevent a return to violence while prioritising the safety of people living in border communities, Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said yesterday. The issue was raised during discussions with his counterparts from Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Singapore on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting Retreat in Cebu, the Philippines, from Jan 28–29. Mr Sihasak said the four states during the meeting expressed concern over the tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border. The regional partners, he said, were keen to see a swift de-escalation and the return of Asean unity. "We must exercise the utmost restraint to preserve peace, while ensuring that this localised issue does not become an obstacle to building a stronger Asean community."

Source: Bangkok Post January 30, 2026 15:10 UTC