A delicate and decisive step towards a ceasefire on the Thai and Cambodian frontline — Phar Kim Beng

Malay Mail

5 days ago

JULY 29 — The corridor of diplomacy is never short of symbolic breakthroughs. But occasionally, it offers more than gestures—it opens the door to real possibilities for peace. Such was the case on July 28, 2025, in Putrajaya, where Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hosted a high-stakes special meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The world watched with bated breath but it has also found much succor that some forms of military de-escalation are possible.
This, what emerged from that encounter in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, may not be a final resolution writ large—granted this is a historical feud—but it is undoubtedly a delicate and decisive step forward.
In a region where border flare-ups are often left to fester or quietly extinguished by backroom diplomacy, this was a moment of strategic transparency and calibrated cooperation.
The meeting, co-organized with the participation of the United States and the People's Republic of China, where the latter was a keen Observer and responsible stakeholder, produced something seldom achieved so quickly in the midst of rising hostilities: a mutual pledge to immediately halt all military activity.
The ceasefire agreement—set to take effect by the end of that day—reflects the seriousness with which both Cambodia and Thailand have decided to de-escalate.
What makes this moment especially promising is not merely the ceasefire itself, but the careful architecture built around it to ensure accountability and communication. How ?
There is now a clearly defined system of coordination in place. On the military front, regional commanders from both sides—those operating closest to the flashpoints—will hold face-to-face discussions to ensure the ceasefire holds at the operational level.
These formal and informal meetings signal a shift from confrontation to collaboration, allowing military actors to communicate directly rather than through politicized or delayed national channels. Commanders can talk to commanders to halt the violence while the capitals and the world will back them.
Simultaneously, the foreign and defense ministers of all three countries—Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand—have been instructed to formulate a detailed mechanism for the implementation and verification of the ceasefire. This will likely involve daily reporting, neutral observation, and clearly outlined rules of engagement.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) mediates a ceasefire deal between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (left) and Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai (right) in Putrajaya on July 28, 2025 to ease escalating tensions following an armed confrontation between the two South-east Asian countries. — Bernama pic
The political and military chain of command are therefore engaged in parallel with the Cambodian and Thai military, reinforcing the ceasefire from both the top and bottom of the security architecture. As President Donald Trump of the United States has further warned. If the guns do not go silent, come August 1, Thailand and Cambodia will not get a "trade deal" to reduce the high tariffs with which the US is about to impose on them. For the sake of their national interest, the military and political elites of Cambodia and Thailand should take heed. Malaysia has yet to reach a deal with the US yet. But Anwar has taken his vital time off his packed schedule, too, to help both sides make peace.
Perhaps most importantly, both Phnom Penh and Bangkok have agreed to resume direct communication between their respective Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and Defense Ministers. This step not only restores trust but also institutionalizes it. Direct lines of communication reduce the risk of miscalculation and create space for longer-term dialogue to stabilize the 817 KM border that separates them.
On the multilateral side, a crucial meeting of the General Border Committee is scheduled to take place in the coming days. Cambodia will host this meeting, which should serve as the first formal platform to stabilize the ceasefire and propose future cooperation on unresolved border demarcation issues. Malaysia, as Chair of Asean, has offered to coordinate a neutral observer team to monitor implementation on the ground.
This is no small offer, given the Chair's centrality in Asean's consensus-based diplomacy and the credibility it carries within the region.
Notably, both the United States and China have endorsed and participated in this process. President Donald Trump has indeed reportedly communicated directly with both leaders, urging them toward peace. It is unique that the US has offered itself to ameliorate the tensions between Cambodia and Thailand without being intimidated by how complex the situation on the ground is.
China, meanwhile, has remained in constant contact with all key actors and supports the broader effort to reestablish normalcy. That these two great powers—often at odds in Southeast Asia—can find common ground with the Chair of Asean, therein Anwar, on this issue reinforces how high the stakes are for regional peace and stability.
Yet despite this rare alignment of interests, the situation remains fragile. Ceasefires are only as strong as the discipline of those tasked with enforcing them. Border skirmishes can reignite from a single misfire, especially when nationalism, historical grievances, or digital misinformation stoke the flames.
That is why the establishment of a joint mechanism for verification, supported by Asean observers, is essential. Without it, peace could prove elusive.
Kuala Lumpur has therefore not only offered a space for resolution—it has provided a blueprint for how peace might take root. The architecture is sound: military-to-military dialogue, ministerial coordination, resumed political communication, regional oversight, and great power buy-in. But these are only frameworks. The true test will come in how each actor chooses to honour the commitments made in Malaysia's capital.
In the weeks ahead, the spotlight will remain fixed on Cambodia and Thailand, but also on Malaysia as the steward of Asean's moral and strategic leadership. This is a chance not only to prevent further loss of life but also to reaffirm the region's commitment to peaceful coexistence, diplomacy, and responsible statecraft. If the momentum gained in Kuala Lumpur can be maintained, this ceasefire may become something more than just a pause—it may become the first page in a new chapter of regional stability.
* Phar Kim Beng is professor of Asean Studies at IIUM and director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.