
Thai and Cambodian leaders head to Malaysia for peace talks
Thailand's government said it was attending talks arranged by Malaysia in its role as chair of the regional ASEAN bloc, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the talks were co-organised by the United States with the participation of China. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were in Malaysia to assist peace efforts, after President Donald Trump had earlier said that he thought both leaders wanted to settle the conflict.
'We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,' Rubio said in statement released late on Sunday in the US and early Monday in Asia. 'State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts.' Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the killing in late May of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse.
Hostilities broke out last Thursday and have escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade.
The death toll has risen above 30, including more than 20 civilians, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had proposed ceasefire talks soon after the border dispute erupted into conflict on Thursday, and China and the United States also offered to assist in negotiations. Thailand had said it supported calls for a ceasefire in principle but wanted to negotiate bilaterally, while Cambodia had called for international involvement.
Anwar said he expected to chair the negotiations after being asked by representatives of the two governments to try to find a peace settlement, state media agency Bernama reported.
'So, I'm discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire,' he said late on Sunday
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Trump's trade threat worked? Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire after US President's warning
The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand said during a news conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, that they agreed to a ceasefire on Monday (July 28), effective midnight, in a bid to bring an end to their deadliest conflict in more than a decade after five days of fierce fighting. Amid an international effort to quell the conflict, the Thai and Cambodian leaders held talks in Malaysia, hosted by its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, where both sides agreed to halt hostilities and resume direct communications. Show more Show less
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Thailand, Cambodia agree on midnight ceasefire, says Malaysia's PM
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to enforce an 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire starting at midnight, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Monday, reported the Associated Press. The decision followed high-level peace negotiations mediated by Malaysia in its capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Anwar said the agreement marked a mutual understanding between both nations to work towards restoring peace and stability after days of escalating violence. 'Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of July 28,' Anwar said at a joint press briefing, reported the Associated Press. At the conclusion of the meeting, both leaders shook hands and welcomed the outcome. What triggered the escalation The recent round of violence began on July 24 after a land mine exploded near the Thailand-Cambodia border, injuring five Thai soldiers. The two countries exchanged blame for the incident, which quickly escalated into armed conflict. So far, the fighting has killed at least 35 people and forced over 260,000 residents to flee border regions. The toll includes 13 civilian deaths in Thailand and eight in Cambodia. In reaction to the clashes, both countries withdrew their ambassadors. Thailand shut all northeastern border crossings, making exceptions only for Cambodian migrant workers returning home. Blame game over civilian casualties Cambodia has strongly denied allegations that it targeted civilians during the conflict. Instead, it accused Thailand of endangering lives and called on the international community to condemn what it termed as Thai aggression. Despite talks of de-escalation, skirmishes continued on Monday, with reports of gunfire heard in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province near the town of Samrong, according to the Associated Press. Malaysia, Asean stress ceasefire as top priority Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that the most urgent priority was the ceasefire, though both countries were expected to present their respective peace proposals. "Our focus is to end the violence immediately," he said. On July 27, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, calling it 'an easy one' to resolve. 'We're dealing with Thailand, and we do a lot of trade with Thailand and with Cambodia, and yet I'm reading that they're killing each other... I say this should be an easy one for me,' he said, drawing comparisons to the recent India-Pakistan conflict, which he claims to have resolved. Thousands displaced as tensions simmer The clashes have forced over 200,000 people to evacuate on both sides of the border. Many of them remain in temporary shelters, awaiting further directions from military and civil authorities.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
36 dead, 2 lakh displaced: Why Thailand & Cambodia just called for a ceasefire after 5 days of border clashes
After five days of intense fighting along their disputed border, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an unconditional and immediate ceasefire. The announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who hosted the mediation talks in Putrajaya on July 28. The clashes, which left at least 36 people dead and over 200,000 displaced, showcased the deadliest bout of violence between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade. Both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai were present at the talks, along with ambassadors from China and the US. The ceasefire agreement, effective from midnight on July 28, was reached following intervention from multiple regional and international players, including US President Donald Trump. Cambodia and Thailand agree an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" with effect from midnight What triggered the recent border clashes? The fighting between Thailand and Cambodia broke out on July 24, escalating quickly with reports of heavy artillery and Thai airstrikes. While both sides accused each other of starting the conflict, tensions had already been rising since a Cambodian soldier was killed during a skirmish in late May. The two countries share an 817-km border, with several stretches. Disputes over ancient temples—especially the 11th-century Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom—have long strained relations. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, but a fresh wave of tension erupted in 2008 when Cambodia sought to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Skirmishes since then have led to deaths on both sides. Cambodia has denied Thai claims of targeting civilians, accusing Thailand of putting innocent lives at risk. On the other hand, Thailand has said Cambodia escalated the conflict, leading to the deaths of 13 Thai civilians and 8 Cambodians. A message to my international friends, both Thai and Cambodia agreed to cease fire unconditionally effecting 12:00AM tonight GMT +7. I will still be off to provinces at 03:00AM tonight to donate to affect families.#JusticeForCambodia #CambodiaWantsPeace Malaysia steps in, backed by US and China Malaysia offered to mediate once the border conflict intensified. The mediation effort was supported by both China and the US. Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim invited both Thai and Cambodian leaders to his official residence in Putrajaya. US President Donald Trump also played a crucial role, speaking to both leaders and warning that no trade deals would be signed unless the conflict ended. Hun Manet confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the meeting was held to reach a ceasefire, which had been 'initiated by US President Donald Trump' and agreed to by both governments. Malaysia, which currently chairs the ASEAN bloc, hosted the talks with an aim to restore stability in the region. Anwar told reporters that the leaders had 'expressed their positions and willingness' for a ceasefire, describing it as a 'vital first step' toward de-escalation and a return to peace. I just had a very good call with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and informed him of my discussions with Thailand, and its Acting Prime Minister. Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They are also looking to get back to the 'Trading Table' with the… What happens next? Despite the ceasefire announcement, both Thailand and Cambodia reported clashes in some border areas even on the day of the agreement. Hun Manet described the outcome of the talks as 'a condition for moving forward for our bilateral discussion to return to normalcy of the relationship.' While Cambodia has asked the International Court of Justice to step in, Thailand continues to prefer a bilateral approach and has not recognised the court's jurisdiction. The fundamental disagreements over the historical boundary lines remain unresolved. The latest violence serves as a reminder of how quickly long-standing territorial disputes can spiral into deadly conflict. Whether this ceasefire holds depends on how sincerely both governments follow through with diplomatic talks in the days ahead.