Editor's note: Wang Peng, a special commentator for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Charhar Institute and School of Marxism, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Against the backdrop of a tense ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand following a destructive border conflict, senior officials from the two nations and China met in the Yunnan Province in southwestern China for dialogue for a lasting peace.

The meeting by the tranquil Fuxian Lake and the nuanced consensus that emerged from it is not just one single diplomatic event. It is a lens through which to observe the operational principles, distinct style, and growing efficacy of the Chinese approach to conflict resolution in a complex world.

A multi-stage blueprint

The press release from the Fuxian meeting reveals a mediation philosophy that consciously distances itself from the traditional, interventionist playbook. At its core lies a profound respect for agency. By positioning itself as a convener and a platform provider rather than an arbiter or a deal broker, China seeks to create a neutral space.

This approach mitigates the distrust often associated with great-power mediation and crucially, ensures that the disputing parties retain ownership over their peace process, making any agreement inherently more sustainable.

Building upon this foundational principle, the Fuxian blueprint outlines a multi-stage pathway from ceasefire to reconciliation, demonstrating a holistic understanding of peacebuilding.

The immediate and urgent task, naturally, is to transform a tentative truce into a stable reality. Here, China's support moves beyond rhetoric to actionable commitments, such as offering all necessary support for humanitarian de-mining – a practical measure addressing a direct trigger of violence – and providing substantive assistance to ensure the effectiveness of the ASEAN observers' team that will monitor the Thailand-Cambodia border for de-escalation of their dispute.

Since a peace which ignores human suffering is fragile, the blueprint pivots to the restoration of normalcy as the next critical phase. It emphasizes the resumption of cross-border exchanges and the restoration of livelihoods for displaced people, backed by China's pledge of immediate humanitarian assistance. This focus on the socio-economic dimension builds the essential grassroots trust upon which political agreements can endure.

The vision then extends to the deliberate rebuilding of political trust. A particularly adroit diplomatic touch is the linkage of bilateral reconciliation to the broader tapestry of regional cooperation.

The agreement to foster a positive atmosphere for the upcoming Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Leaders' Meeting (the gathering of the leaders of the six countries sharing the Mekong/Lancang River – China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam), provides a natural, low-stakes avenue for Cambodia and Thailand to re-engage, framing their dialogue within a shared context of common developmental interests, rather than the isolated arena of historical grievance.

Ultimately, the Fuxian consensus elevates the discourse to the long-term goal of fully normalized relations and the shared responsibility for regional stability. By anchoring future interactions in the charters of the United Nations and ASEAN, it transforms a bilateral dispute into a matter of collective regional imperative, governed by established norms rather than political will, which may change.

From vision to sustained action

The success at Fuxian Lake is the result of a carefully orchestrated and sustained diplomatic campaign. It reflects a "constructive engagement" model that aligns closely with China's strategic vision of "building a community with a shared future with neighbouring countries." This model is characterized by strategic patience, anticipatory action, and seamless coordination across different levels of diplomacy.

In the months leading to the crisis, Chinese diplomacy was already engaged in preventive work. High-level dialogues consistently emphasized the paramount importance of regional stability.

When tensions first flickered in mid-2025, a multi-tiered response was activated: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi articulated China's principled stance of impartiality, senior officials hosted discreet informal talks, and working-level channels remained open. This demonstrated a deeply institutionalized and coordinated diplomatic apparatus.

As the situation deteriorated into open conflict in December, China's role intensified dynamically. The diplomacy shifted from prevention to active crisis management, with the foreign minister making urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and a special envoy being dispatched for intense, on-the-ground shuttle diplomacy.

This decisive action was pivotal in securing the initial truce. However, unlike approaches that consider a ceasefire the final destination, Chinese diplomacy displayed its long-term commitment by immediately pivoting to the next phase, hosting the Fuxian Lake meeting to solidify the gains and plan the arduous journey from the silence of guns to genuine peace.

This entire sequence – from preventive diplomacy, through calibrated crisis management, to post-conflict consolidation – reveals a distinctive rhythm marked by persistence, unwavering focus on dialogue as the only viable solution, and a holistic view that intrinsically links conflict resolution to the broader objectives of regional development and integration.

A synthesis of tradition and pragmatism

The Fuxian mediation is a vivid case study in the defining characteristics of contemporary Chinese diplomacy, blending time-honored principles with pragmatic innovation.

The approach is first defined by integrity coupled with adaptive creativity. The commitment to foundational norms such as sovereignty and non-interference is non-negotiable, providing a solid and predictable moral compass.

Yet, within this framework, there is remarkable flexibility in method. China employs a versatile toolkit – from discreet shuttle diplomacy and hosting multilateral dialogues to timely humanitarian assistance.

The very choice of venue, the serene Fuxian Lake following the earlier meeting in "Anning," another city in Yunnan whose name means "peace and tranquillity," reflects an innovative understanding of how environment can influence diplomatic psychology.

Underpinning these actions is a profound sense of mutually shared destiny. Chinese mediation is propelled by a worldview that perceives national interests as deeply interconnected with regional stability and neighbourly prosperity. The genuine expressions of concern for civilian casualties and the swift pledge of assistance stem from a philosophical stance that one's own security is indivisible from that of one's surroundings. This is the practical expression of the maxim that "when the world does well, China will do well."

Furthermore, the Fuxian model exemplifies a spirit of inclusive collaboration. A hallmark of China's involvement is its consistent and vocal support for "ASEAN's due role" in the process. Instead of seeking to dominate or sideline the regional organization, China worked to empower it, offering concrete resources to bolster its observer mission. This demonstrates a preference for strengthening the existing multilateral architecture and finding a complementary, supportive role within it.

Finally, the effort was infused respect and relational trust. The process was consistently contextualized within the language of long-standing friendship – "ironclad friends" with Cambodia, "as close as one family" with Thailand.

This emphasis on shared history and mutual respect for core interests creates a reservoir of goodwill. It makes difficult conversations possible and ensures that proposals are received as counsel from a trusted partner, not as diktats from a distant power. This relational aspect stands in stark contrast to transactional or coercive styles of mediation, which often fail to secure lasting buy-in.

The resonance of the Fuxian formula

The meeting at Fuxian Lake articulates and demonstrates a coherent, principled, and patient model of international mediation. In a global landscape often marked by geopolitical posturing and short-term crisis management, China's distinctive approach offers a contrasting paradigm. It argues, through practice, that sustainable peace is less often brokered in dramatic impositions and more often nurtured through respectful facilitation, strategic patience, and a steadfast commitment to a process owned by those it affects most.

The "Fuxian formula," therefore, represents a significant contribution of Chinese diplomatic thinking – a call to prioritize the meticulous, often quiet, work of building peace over the seductive spectacle of merely declaring it.

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