RTA delays RBC meeting due to ongoing artillery fire from Cambodia along the frontier
Tensions Remain Along Thailand-Cambodia Border After Postponement of Regional Border Committee Meeting
The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia along their shared border remains under strain, following the postponement of the Regional Border Committee meeting. The meeting, initially scheduled for 7:00am on an unspecified date, was postponed indefinitely due to ongoing cross-border attacks by Cambodian forces.
The clashes have been reported in several border zones, including Chong Bok, Chong An Ma, Sam Tae, Prasat Ta Khwai, and Phu Makua. Throughout the night and into the morning, multiple reports emerged of Cambodian military activity involving harassment and the use of supporting fire into Thai territory.
The Royal Thai Army has been closely monitoring frontline developments following Thailand's adherence to the ceasefire from midnight onward. Thai forces have responded in accordance with the evolving situation on the ground, using frontline personnel and supporting firepower to suppress the ongoing provocations.
The postponement of the meeting involved high-ranking military officials from both countries. Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang and Lt Gen Amarit Boonsuya from the Royal Thai Army were set to attend, along with their Cambodian military counterparts. Maj Gen Vinthai Suwaree, the army spokesman, made the postponement announcement on behalf of the Second Army Region of the Royal Thai Army.
Despite the indefinite postponement, efforts to arrange the meeting are still ongoing. The unstable security situation along the border has led to heightened travel advisories, and the border remains a sensitive flashpoint requiring sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure lasting peace.
The current conflict intensified in late July 2025, with heavy fighting around multiple border locations near the Preah Vihear Temple area. Although an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" was declared following talks in late July under ASEAN mediation, this ceasefire is considered precarious amid deep-rooted territorial disputes and mutual distrust.
International involvement includes ASEAN's call for ceasefire and the United Nations Security Council's emergency session, with the US also facilitating dialogue. However, ongoing difficulties in bilateral dialogue and border demarcation efforts persist. Both governments publicly support peaceful resolutions, but nationalist politics and political complexities, including personal rivalries between leaders, complicate progress. Thailand continues to favor bilateral mechanisms over international arbitration, rejecting the jurisdiction of the ICJ on this matter.
As of early August 2025, no full resolution has been reached, and the border remains a volatile region. The postponement of the Regional Border Committee meeting is a setback in efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, but diplomatic efforts continue in the pursuit of lasting peace.
[1] ASEAN Urges Immediate Ceasefire in Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute (Reuters, July 2025) [2] UN Security Council Holds Emergency Session over Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict (UN News, July 2025) [3] Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict: Complex Politics and Unresolved Territorial Disputes (The Diplomat, August 2025) [4] US Facilitates Dialogue to Ease Tensions Along Thailand-Cambodia Border (The Washington Post, August 2025) [5] Travel Advisory: Thailand-Cambodia Border Remains Unstable (US State Department, August 2025)
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