China’s top diplomat held separate talks with his counterparts in Thailand and Cambodia as Beijing seeks to mediate a border clash after a new bout of violence between the two countries threatened to derail a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was briefed by envoys from Thailand and Cambodia on the latest developments in the conflict. Both sides expressed willingness for de-escalation and a ceasefire, state media Xinhua News Agency reported, citing their phone calls on Thursday. Wang said China was saddened by civilian casualties and urged the two sides to halt hostilities to prevent further damage and protect ASEAN unity, according to the report.

Wang added China has dispatched a special envoy for shuttle diplomacy and will continue to facilitate peace talks, while calling on both governments to safeguard Chinese projects and personnel, Xinhua reported.

Deng Xijun, China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, was scheduled to travel to Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday to conduct mediation, the Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement.

“China closely follows the ongoing border conflict between the two countries,” according to the statement. “Through its own way, China has been working actively for deescalation.”

Trump has pushed for peace since the conflict spiked in July and has threatened both with trade retaliation if either nation violates the terms of an October peace declaration he orchestrated. While Deng has traveled at least twice to seek mediation, this is his first since the so-called Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords were signed.

Clashes along the 800-kilometer (497-mile) border resumed earlier this month, including Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military targets. More than two dozen people have been killed, including 16 Thai soldiers and 12 Cambodian civilians, and over half a million people have fled the area because of the fighting.

China has engaged with both sides since the start of the violence, but has kept a much lower profile than the U.S. as Beijing generally avoids publicly intervening in conflicts, beyond seeking to facilitate discussions.

The Trump administration has sought to highlight that China hasn’t played a role in the peace process. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside normal working hours.

Trump called both leaders last week to push again for a ceasefire, although the fighting has since continued.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs Asean this year, said Wednesday that he’s been in contact with the leaders as well, and that both told him they want to resolve their border clashes as soon as possible.

Deng’s trip also comes as Cambodia’s use of Chinese weapons comes into focus, following reports that the Thai military seized a large number of Chinese-made weapons from Cambodian soldiers.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun didn’t confirm nor deny the news at a press briefing Wednesday, but reiterated that Beijing has had “normal defense cooperation” with both countries and that such cooperation doesn’t target any third party.

Thailand, which is a treaty ally with the U.S., has far larger and more sophisticated armed forces than Cambodia. Its attacks on Cambodia have included the use of American F-16 fighter jets.

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—With assistance from Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Foster Wong.

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