Thailand and Cambodia meet for ceasefire talks as clashes continue
The talks will be hosted at the official residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said both sides would present their conditions for peace, and emphasised the importance of an immediate ceasefire.
Cambodia and Thailand have both blamed each other for starting the fighting, which began on Thursday after five Thai soldiers were wounded following a landmine explosion.
The conflict has killed at least 35 and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides. The two countries also downgraded their diplomatic relations, with both countries recalling their ambassadors.
Both side agreed to a ceasefire over the weekend, although Thailand has remained cautious in its response.
Before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Phumtham told reporters in Bangkok that the key focus would be on an immediate ceasefire, but expressed concern over trust, as Cambodia had not halted its airstrikes.
'We have informed that we don't have trust in Cambodia. All they have done reflect that they are not sincere in solving this problem. So they have to show the detail how they will do to prove their sincerity,' he said.
He added that the US and China will also attend the talks as observers.
Mounting international pressure for peace
The talks come amid mounting international calls for peace, including by US President Donald Trump, who warned Washington would halt trade deals with both countries if hostilities continued.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers urged both Thailand and Cambodia to find a middle ground, amid growing concerns over the rising death toll, mass displacement, and destruction of public properties.
ASEAN member states pride themselves on non-aggression, peaceful dialogue, and economic cooperation. The clashes represent a rare instance of open military confrontation inside the 10-nation regional bloc.
Meanwhile, many Thais and Cambodians are desperate to return home, as over 139,000 people in Thailand and 79,000 in Cambodia have been displaced.
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LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
Thailand and Cambodia agree to an 'unconditional' ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia's leaders agreed to an "unconditional" ceasefire on Monday, July 28, after five days of fighting along their jungle-clad frontier, with the conflicts having killed at least 36 people and forced tens of thousands to flee. The flare-up over a long-disputed border area was the deadliest since 2008-2011, a period when violence raged throughout the territory, which is claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation established by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. The two countries agreed "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from 24 hours local time, midnight on 28th July 2025, tonight," Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said. The announcement follows a mediation meeting at Anwar's official residence in Malaysia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet met shortly after 0700 GMT, with Anwar present. "This is a vital first step," Anwar told reporters, adding both leaders have "expressed their positions and willingness to (...) an immediate ceasefire, a return to de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security." Both Putham and Hun thanked US President Donald Trump for supporting the talks. Hun added "the solutions that Prime Minister Anwar just announced will set a condition for moving forward for our bilateral discussion to return to normalcy of the relationship." At least 36 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced as the countries, both popular tourist destinations, fought over a smattering of contested border temples.
AFP
4 hours ago
- AFP
Old military exercise photo misrepresented as Thailand-Cambodia clashes
"Thailand launches AIR STRIKES on Cambodian military targets," reads a post shared July 25, 2025 on X that features the photo. Image Screenshot of the false post captured July 28, 2025, with a red 'X' added by AFP Similar posts also ricocheted on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as the bloodiest military clashes in more than a decade erupted between Thailand and Cambodia (archived link). At least 35 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced since the dramatic escalation in hostilities between the neighbouring countries over their jungle-clad frontier, which is home to a smattering of contested ancient temples. Both sides began discussing a ceasefire on July 28 at the residence of Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, serving chair of the ASEAN bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are members. However, a reverse image search of keyframes on Google traced the picture to a Facebook post from the Thai Royal Air Force on June 16, 2025, weeks before fighting started (archived link). "Images of the collaboration between the strong air forces of Thailand and Indonesia through the mixed drills," reads part of the caption, adding that the exercise took place from June 9 to 19. "Both countries' air forces took to the skies above southern Esan," it goes on to say, referring to the northwestern region of Thailand. Image Screenshot of the Royal Thai Air Force post taken July 28, 2025, with the picture highlighted by AFP The Royal Thai Air Force also published a press release on its official website about the conclusion of the joint air drills with Indonesia on June 20, 2025 (archived link). Matching visuals -- including the aircraft images and the logo -- can also be seen in a June 19 article about the joint Thai-Indonesian air drill on a dedicated blog (archived link). AFP has debunked more misinformation on the Thailand-Cambodia dispute here, here and here.
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Ceasefire talks under way between Thai and Cambodian leaders in Malaysia
Ceasefire talks have started between Thai and Cambodian leaders in Malaysia in an urgent effort to resolve deadly border clashes that entered a fifth day despite mounting international calls for peace. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai gathered Monday for the meeting at the official residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who is hosting the negotiations as chair of the regional bloc, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The fighting flared last Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, that have killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, with an exception for migrant Cambodian workers returning home. Troops from both sides reported ongoing fighting Monday along border areas. Gunfire could be heard as dawn broke in Samrong in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, Associated Press reporters covering the conflict said. Maly Socheata, a Cambodian defense ministry spokesperson, said the Thai assault was 'ongoing and strong' on Monday. Anwar said late Sunday that both sides would present their conditions for peace but 'what is important is immediate ceasefire". 'I hope this can work,' Anwar was quoted as saying by Malaysian national news agency Bernama. 'Although it's not as bad as many other countries, we have to put a stop (to the violence).' Talks after pressure from Trump The meeting followed direct pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has warned that the United States may not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue. Before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Phumtham told reporters in Bangkok that representatives from China and the US will also attend as observers. He said the key focus would be on an immediate ceasefire, but noted trust could be an issue as Cambodia has not stopped its strikes. 'We have informed that we don't have trust in Cambodia. All they have done reflect that they are not sincere in solving this problem. So they have to show the detail how they will do to prove their sincerity,' he said. Officials later said that the Chinese and American ambassadors to Malaysia are attending the meeting. The violence marks a rare instance of open military confrontation between ASEAN member states, a 10-nation regional bloc that has prided itself on non-aggression, peaceful dialogue and economic cooperation. In a statement Monday, ASEAN foreign ministers reiterated concern over the rising death toll, destruction of public properties and displacement of a large number of people along the disputed border areas. They urged the two countries to resolve their disputes through negotiations and expressed support for efforts to find a middle ground during Monday's talks. 'I miss my home' The conflict also drew the attention of Pope Leo XIV. At the Vatican on Sunday, the pontiff said he was praying for all those affected by war in the world, including 'for those affected by the clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, especially the children and displaced families". At an evacuation shelter in Cambodia's Siem Reap province far away from the border, Ron Mao, 56, prays for a ceasefire deal during the leaders' meeting Monday. She and her family fled their home a kilometre away from the front line when fighting broke out Thursday. They took refuge in a shelter but moved again to another camp further away after hearing artillery shelling. 'I don't want to see this war happen. It's very difficult and I don't want to run around like this,' she said, 'When I heard our prime minister go to negotiate for peace, I would be very happy if they reached the deal as soon as possible, so that I and my children can return home as soon as possible.' Thai evacuees shared the sentiment. 'I beg the government. I want it to end quickly,' said farmer Nakorn Jomkamsing at an evacuation camp in Surin hosting more than 6,000 people. 'I want to live peacefully. I miss my home, my pets, my pigs, dogs and chicken,' the 63-year-old woman said. The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics.
