Citing Politico, the source reports that US President Donald Trump had expressed willingness to chair a Thai–Cambodian peace agreement signing ceremony during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur later that month, on condition that the hosts not invite Chinese officials. The report says the demand attracted wide international attention.
The summit was scheduled for 26–28 October, with discussion expected to include the effects of US tariffs on Southeast Asian countries. The source presents Trump’s proposed peace ceremony condition as an attempt to shape the summit’s public and diplomatic agenda.
The source says White House officials confirmed that a Thai–Cambodian peace signing was among Trump’s main conditions for attending. It attributes to analysts the view that he wanted to strengthen his image as a global peacemaker. Since returning to office in January, Trump had repeatedly claimed to have mediated seven international conflicts and hoped to compete for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The source cites commentary that Trump sought to reshape US influence in Southeast Asia through an ASEAN peace platform, while excluding China could deepen political divisions in the region.
Compiled by this station
