China calls for upholding Yemen's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and hopes that the parties concerned will work to create conditions for restoring peace and tranquility in Yemen at an early date, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.
"China is following the situation in southern Yemen, calls for upholding Yemen's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. China hopes that the parties concerned will put the Yemeni people's interests first and respond to the peace efforts of countries in the region and the rest of the international community, resolve differences and disputes through political dialogue in accordance with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and the initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council, find a solution that accommodates all parties' legitimate concerns, and create conditions for restoring peace and tranquility in Yemen at an early date," Lin told a press conference in Beijing.
"China will continue to promote talks for peace in its own way and play a constructive role for early realization of a political settlement of the Yemen issue," he said.
Tensions have risen over the actions of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council (STC), which recently seized large swathes of the oil-rich Hadramout province and the eastern governorate of Al-Mahrah.
The STC, despite being part of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), has long promoted southern Yemeni independence and accused the internationally-recognized government -- now based in the southern city of Aden after being ousted by Houthi forces in 2014 -- of failing to counter Houthi offensives.
The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours and end all support for separatist groups, signaling a sharp public rift between the two Gulf powers.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defense said it would withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen, citing concerns that recent developments "could affect the safety and effectiveness of its counterterrorism operations." The ministry did not provide a timeline and denied pressuring any Yemeni party to carry out operations threatening Saudi security.
China calls for upholding Yemen's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity: spokesman
Seventy-two hours after Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint ceasefire declaration, situations along parts of the shared border have stabilized, though the impact of the fighting remains lingering in the affected villages in Cambodia.
On December 27, Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint ceasefire statement at a special meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).
By midday on December 30, three days after the truce took effect, border villages on the Cambodian side showed no signs of renewed fighting.
Cambodia's National Road 58, which connects the border city of Poipet with nearby villages, was once a busy transport route but now sees only sparse traffic. Several villages along the road were heavily damaged during the conflict.
In Sela Khmer Village, small shops along the roadside remain closed, and this village of more than 2,000 residents was nearly empty.
Unexploded ordnance left behind during the fighting continues to pose a serious risk, requiring caution and protective measures for anyone moving through the area.
A local official said the border village was repeatedly shelled by Thai military forces during the 20-day conflict.
"The village still has no water and no electricity. It is very dangerous here, and no one dares to come to repair the facilities, so it is still uncertain when power will be restored," said Yern Pov, head of Sela Khmer Village.
As the situation calmed, some residents began returning from evacuation shelters. Near evening, a couple was seen making their way back to the village after spending 20 days at a shelter about 50 kilometers away.
"In the first two days of the conflict, we could hear the intermittent artillery shelling. Later, the shelling became more and more intense, and we had no choice but to evacuate. At the shelter, many people slept together on mats, and it was very crowded. Those who arrived later could hardly find a place to sleep," said Launh, a local resident.
Despite the ceasefire, large numbers of displaced people remain in shelters located dozens or more than 100 kilometers away from the border and are still unable to return home.
Local governments face mounting pressure to provide food and daily necessities, while charitable organizations have stepped up deliveries of relief supplies to affected populations.
Cambodia border villages remain deserted despite ceasefire implementation
