Thailand, Cambodia Agree to End Border Clashes
The Thai 1st Army Region confirmed border stability in Sa Kaeo province following the truce implementation, a Thai media outlet reported.
The nations reached consensus to enact an immediate cessation of hostilities on Saturday, concluding three weeks of warfare that left dozens dead and numerous others wounded.
The accord was revealed in a joint declaration released after the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC) convened—a bilateral entity co-led by defense ministers from both Southeast Asian nations, according to the Cambodian Prime Minister's office.
The truce became operational Saturday at 12:00 noon local time (0500GMT).
Under the framework, both parties committed to suspending all military aggression and vowed to prevent unprovoked gunfire, troop advancement, or repositioning toward adversarial lines.
The ceasefire encompasses all border zones and protects military installations, civilian populations, and critical infrastructure, the statement specified.
The agreement stipulates Thailand will repatriate all 18 soldiers held in Thai detention since July to Cambodia once the ceasefire maintains full integrity for 72 hours.
As de-escalation provisions, Cambodia and Thailand consented to preserve existing force deployments without additional movements, including patrols toward opposing fortifications.
The joint declaration stressed that the ceasefire operates without prejudice to existing border demarcation issues.
Both nations also pledged to recommence survey and demarcation operations through the Joint Boundary Commission at the earliest opportunity, prioritizing affected border areas where civilians reside and ensuring the safety of joint survey teams, including protection from landmines.
The accord also allows displaced civilians to return safely and with dignity to their homes and livelihoods.
Earlier Saturday morning, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata alleged the Thai military launched approximately 500 artillery rounds into multiple border sectors, while drones deployed 10 warheads and F-16 fighter jets executed airstrikes near civilian locations, according to state-run media.
The spokeswoman claimed Thailand also utilized heavy artillery, rocket launchers, tanks, armored vehicles, drones and infantry units in attacks on parts of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces.
Thai authorities provided no immediate response or verification regarding the latest Cambodian allegations.
Top Cambodian, Thai Diplomats Convene in China
Cambodia's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday that the country's chief diplomat, Prak Sokhonn, will participate in a tripartite summit between Cambodia, Thailand and China in Yunnan province in southwestern China on Sunday and Monday, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, to discuss the current situation between the two Southeast Asian countries.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed China's top diplomat Wang has invited Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow for the discussions, according to media.
Approximately 99 individuals perished over the past 20 days since confrontations resumed on Dec. 8, one day after a border skirmish wounded two Thai soldiers.
Cumulatively, 26 Thai soldiers and a civilian were killed in the fighting. Additionally, 41 other civilians died due to "collateral effects" amid the border clashes, according to Thai authorities.
Cambodia's Interior Ministry reported 31 Cambodian civilians were killed.
Nearly 1 million people have been displaced on both sides since the renewed clashes began.
Thailand and Cambodia maintain a longstanding border dispute that has repeatedly erupted into violence, including clashes in July in which at least 48 people were killed.
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