Cambodia joins countries supporting China peace plan for Ukraine war
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Cambodia's defense minister stresses that there is no military solution to the conflict in Ukraine and urges countries to come forward with peace proposals.
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A Russian army service member fires a howitzer during drills at the Kuzminsky range in the southern Rostov region, Russia on January 26, 2022 (Reuters)
Cambodia supports China's 12-point peace plan for ending the conflict in Ukraine, and urges other countries to propose more political solutions, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh said on Sunday during the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore
"Cambodia supports all initiatives that provide a political solution to end this war, such as China's 12 points initiative to resolve the Russian-Ukraine crisis. Cambodia appeals to the international community to provide initiatives with similar objectives to obtain a political settlement," said the minister.
Stressing that it is impossible to end the war through military means, the minister also noted that currently no framework to establish a solution exists.
Read more: Fearing another Chinese achievement, US raises doubts about peace plan
Bahn expressed his country's opposition to the use of force against countries and called on states to stop "encouraging" sanctions and the expansion of the war.
"The most suitable choice is to end the bloodshed and return to the negotiation table in the spirit of a win-win outcome. Russia, Ukraine, and other countries... will continue to live alongside one another in the region... for hundreds of years. Any solution should focus on honoring each other and we certainly do not want to see anyone being forced against the wall."
On February 24, China issued a 12-point position paper on Ukraine that highlighted all the steps required to reach a "political settlement".
Read more: China's envoy warns EU of Ukraine conflict spillover if left unsolved
“Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control,” the document said.
These include respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, resolving the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians and POWs, keeping nuclear power plants safe, reducing strategic risks, facilitating grain exports, stopping unilateral sanctions, keeping industrial and supply chains stable, and promoting post-conflict reconstruction.
