Border disputes discussion between Thailand and Cambodia initiated in Malaysia, aiming to prevent fatal cross-border conflicts.
Thailand and Cambodia Agree on Ceasefire After Deadly Border Clashes
In a significant development, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following five days of violent clashes at their shared border. The ceasefire, which was agreed upon in late July 2025, has so far been holding, albeit with tensions remaining high and mutual distrust persisting.
The high-level ceasefire talks between the two nations were held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Monday, and were mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently the ASEAN Chair. The talks were initiated to establish an immediate ceasefire and bring an end to the hostilities along the disputed border.
The talks were attended by Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The purpose of the meeting was to ease mounting tensions and promote stability in the conflict-ridden areas near the shared frontier. The talks took place at Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Malaysian Prime Minister.
The escalating violence has resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of thousands of civilians on both sides. Cambodia has confirmed 13 fatalities, including five of its soldiers, due to the violence. Thai authorities report over 20 deaths on their side. The fighting has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes amid the violence.
In a bid to bring about a peaceful resolution, the US and China played crucial roles as co-facilitators in these talks. The United States, under President Donald Trump's administration, exerted significant pressure on both Thailand and Cambodia to halt fighting. This included imposing high tariffs (36%) on exports of both countries, which acted as leverage to push for the ceasefire and contributed to the breakthrough in negotiations.
China, on the other hand, has played a constructive diplomatic role by supporting Cambodia and Thailand in engaging in communication, rebuilding mutual trust, and de-escalating tensions. China hosted a high-level meeting in August 2025 involving the foreign ministers of both countries, expressing readiness to continue assisting, including support for border de-mining efforts and reinforcing peaceful dispute resolution.
Together, the US and China have acted as important external facilitators encouraging dialogue, de-escalation, and a stable ceasefire framework while ASEAN and Malaysia also played key roles in mediation. This multilateral involvement reflects the high regional and international stakes in maintaining peace between Thailand and Cambodia.
The durability of the ceasefire is uncertain, requiring sustained engagement and possibly third-party arbitration to ensure lasting peace. Both sides have publicly committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution, but the future remains unclear.
References:
- BBC News
- Reuters
- The Diplomat
- South China Morning Post
- The Straits Times
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