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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (centre), Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha (fifth from left), Thai acting defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit (fifth from right) and delegates in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7. – Cambodia and Thailand agreed on a set of measures on Aug 7 aimed at bolstering a critical ceasefire between the two neighbouring countries, including allowing an interim team of Asean observers to monitor disputed border areas. But fundamental differences at the heart of the border conflict remain unresolved, analysts say. Top defence officials from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur and jointly signed a 13-point document outlining commitments not to move or reinforce troops and weapons along the disputed border, not to undertake any provocative actions that may escalate tensions, and to refrain from disseminating disinformation, among other measures. Under the agreement, defence attaches from Asean member nations, led by Malaysia, will 'observe, on each side, the implementations of the ceasefire on a regular basis'. 'We are here for a detailed ceasefire arrangement to stop bloodshed and the suffering by soldiers and civilians of both sides,' Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. 'The steps are life-saving measures and lay groundwork for restoring confidence, trust and normalcy between our two countries.' The so-called General Border Committee meeting on Aug 7 was preceded by three days of preliminary talks, and was also attended on the fourth and final day by China and the United States as observers. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Singapore Vape bins placed in Singapore's six autonomous universities to encourage voluntary disposal Singapore CDC, SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDC Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security It follows an unconditional ceasefire agreed on July 28 between Cambodia and Thailand – also brokered in Malaysia – after a five-day conflict, the worst flare-up in the region in over a decade, which claimed at least 43 lives and displaced more than 300,000 people from both sides of the border. 'The monitors are essential,' said Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor of international relations at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. 'If there are no outside monitors physically on the ground, the probability, the risk of return to violence, to military confrontation, will still be high, it's still very tense now.' Analysts said the outcome of the meeting was a step in the right direction in terms of boosting confidence in what is still widely regarded as a fragile truce, with tensions still strained among the massed troops at the border still harbouring a deep distrust of the opposing camp. But fundamental disagreements at the heart of the border conflict remain unresolved, they added. 'This is another step to make sure that the ceasefire that you agreed in the first place is really effective, that both sides be committed and to make sure it's not a fragile agreement,' said Mr Chhay Lim, deputy director at the Centre for South-east Asian Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. 'But the ceasefire is just an immediate solution to the fighting... the next step that is the long-term solution – you still need to resolve the root cause of the problem,' he added. The longstanding border dispute between the two South-east Asian countries stems from historical disagreement over the interpretation of colonial-era maps, which previously erupted in 2011 before the most recent round of tensions was sparked by a brief skirmish that resulted in a Cambodian soldier being shot dead on May 28. Thailand has long favoured direct bilateral negotiations with Cambodia, while Cambodia has opted to pursue international arbitration via the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 'After they (these two countries) fully implement the ceasefire and agree to withdraw the troops from the disputed area, then the next step should be, what should we do with our unfinished border demarcation... and it's another difficult job to talk about after that,' Mr Lim said. Thailand's co-chairman of the border committee, Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Nakphanit, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that Cambodia had continued to contribute to tensions on the ground by deploying additional troops and operating unmanned aerial vehicles at the border, as well as spreading disinformation. 'These are provocative actions that could lead to misunderstandings,' General Nattaphon said. 'However, from the meeting, the Cambodian side at policy level has shown their sincerity to the ceasefire agreement. The violations of the ceasefire, as mentioned prior, may be arbitrary acts by the military units in the area.' The truce has been heralded as a win for Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as Asean chair, and for the regional grouping, though US President Donald Trump has also been quick to claim credit for intervening by using trade tariffs as leverage. Datuk Seri Anwar said the latest meeting was 'meaningful' and resulted in a key consensus to sustain dialogue and uphold the ceasefire along the Thai-Cambodian border. 'Both sides also reached several important agreements including full adherence to the ceasefire without any form of aggression, no increase or repositioning of troops, avoidance of provocative actions, and a firm commitment to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.' Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said it was incumbent on Malaysia as Asean chairman to exercise some degree of leadership in moderating the differences between member states. 'For Asean, it needs to buttress its credibility in security matters, not the least being able to ensure its internal peace in order to maintain the notion of Asean centrality,' he added. Independent geopolitical analyst and managing director of Viewfinder Global Affairs, Adib Zalkapli, said Malaysia would continue to play a key role as mediator as long as both countries recognised it as such. 'Malaysia is a credible and ideal third party in this case, it's the Asean chair (for 2025) and most importantly it is accepted by both Cambodia and Thailand as an honest broker,' Mr Adib said. 'In the long term, the resolution of the issue depends a lot on the domestic politics of both Cambodia and Thailand,' he added. Thailand and Cambodia said in a joint statement on Aug 7 that they would hold more talks in two weeks and then again in a month.
India.com
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Thailand and Cambodia reach consensus on ceasefire detail after fierce conflict, pledge not to...
Thailand Cambodia border dispute New Delhi: Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of the ceasefire and signed an agreement at the extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on Thursday. Officials from Cambodia and Thailand attended the meeting, while delegates from the United States, China and Malaysia participated as third-party observers. According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, both sides agreed to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, pledging to avoid unprovoked firing towards each other's positions or troops, and agreed not to increase forces along the border. Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments without further movement as they were at the time when the ceasefire was reached at midnight on July 28. They also committed to ensuring the proper treatment of captured soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law. The statement further noted that both sides expressed support for an ASEAN observer team led by Malaysia to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. In the interim, a temporary observation mission consisting of defence attaches from ASEAN countries will be stationed in Cambodia and Thailand, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement also said that both sides agreed to maintain regular communication between all army areas and military regions and units, to convene a Regional Border Committee meeting within two weeks, to schedule the next GBC meeting of both countries within one month, and, if necessary, an extraordinary GBC meeting should be called immediately. Speaking at a briefing after the talks, Thai Acting Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit stated that this meeting was crucial to bilateral relations and regional peace and expressed the hope that this meeting would serve as an opportunity to work with Cambodia to promote long-term peace. For his part, Cambodian Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha said that Cambodia will fully implement the consensus reached and will continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation, demonstrating Cambodia's constructive approach to regional peace. Meanwhile, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin noted that both countries had adhered to the principles upheld within the ASEAN framework. 'In ASEAN, we believe in resolving disputes through consensus, non-confrontation, and through trust, mutual respect, and the spirit of non-interference. We strengthen our regional unity, and this ASEAN spirit has guided us today and will continue to guide us in the journey ahead,' he said. Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces erupted on July 24 along their border. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on the afternoon of July 28, which took effect at midnight on the same day.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thailand, Cambodia to deploy ceasefire monitors despite deadlock over captured soldiers
Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday (August 7, 2025) to establish interim observer teams to monitor a fragile ceasefire that ended five days of of deadly armed border clashes, even as the fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand remains unresolved. The first meeting of the General Border Committee concluded after four days of talks in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with a focus on ensuring the full implementation of the ceasefire brokered by Malaysia on July 28. Dozens of people were killed and over 260,000 displaced on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border, when fighting began after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. According to a joint statement from the committee, each country will set up its own interim observer team comprising defence officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and coordinated by the bloc's annual chair Malaysia, pending the deployment of a formal ASEAN observer mission. The interim teams will operate within their respective borders and work closely with local military authorities. The main meeting Thursday was chaired by Cambodian Defence Minister Gen. Tea Seiha and Thailand's Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit. Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, along with representatives from the U.S. and China, attended as observers. U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan said after the meeting that the outcome was an important milestone. 'The U.S. believes this is an important step. However it's important to recognise this is only a step. The goal here is a durable sustainable ceasefire, one that is able to be accepted and enforced by both sides,' he told reporters. He said the U.S. would work closely with Malaysia and ASEAN to monitor the truce. The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned the warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on August 1. However, tensions persisted as each country accused the other of violating the agreements and organised tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continued to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons. While both sides reaffirmed commitments to halt hostilities, freeze troop movement and avoid provocations, the issue of the 18 Cambodian soldiers captured just hours after the ceasefire took effect remains a sticking point. The joint statement did not directly mention them but it noted that the captives should be "immediately released and repatriated after the cessation of active hostilities.' It didn't clarify iwhether this refers to a formal end to the conflict. Cambodia had accused Thailand of mistreating the captured men. Two wounded members of the 20-man Cambodian group were repatriated on Friday. Thai authorities, however, called the group 'prisoners of war' and said they would only be freed and repatriated following an end to the conflict. The Thai Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement Thursday that the 18 prisoners have been treated in full compliance with international humanitarian law. It said members of the International Committee of the Red Cross had visited them on Tuesday at their detention facility, and that the men were in good health and without any injury. Cambodia and Thailand have clashed in the past over their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. Tensions had been growing since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics.
5 hours ago
- Politics
Thailand and Cambodia to deploy ceasefire monitors despite deadlock over captured soldiers
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Thailand and Cambodia agreed Thursday to establish interim observer teams to monitor a fragile ceasefire that ended five days of of deadly armed border clashes, even as the fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured by Thailand remains unresolved. The first meeting of the General Border Committee concluded after four days of talks in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with a focus on ensuring the full implementation of the ceasefire brokered by Malaysia on July 28. Dozens of people were killed and over 260,000 displaced on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border, when fighting began after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. According to a joint statement from the committee, each country will set up its own interim observer team comprising defense officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and coordinated by the bloc's annual chair Malaysia, pending the deployment of a formal ASEAN observer mission. The interim teams will operate within their respective borders and work closely with local military authorities. The main meeting Thursday was chaired by Cambodian Defense Minister Gen. Tea Seiha and Thailand's Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit. Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, along with representatives from the U.S. and China, attended as observers. U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan said after the meeting that the outcome was an important milestone. 'The U.S. believes this is an important step. However it's important to recognize this is only a step. The goal here is a durable sustainable ceasefire, one that is able to be accepted and enforced by both sides,' he told reporters. He said the U.S. would work closely with Malaysia and ASEAN to monitor the truce. The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned the warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on Aug. 1. However, tensions persisted as each country accused the other of violating the agreements and organized tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continued to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons. While both sides reaffirmed commitments to halt hostilities, freeze troop movement and avoid provocations, the issue of the 18 Cambodian soldiers captured just hours after the ceasefire took effect remains a sticking point. The joint statement did not directly mention them but it noted that the captives should be "immediately released and repatriated after the cessation of active hostilities.' It didn't clarify iwhether this refers to a formal end to the conflict. Cambodia had accused Thailand of mistreating the captured men. Two wounded members of the 20-man Cambodian group were repatriated on Friday. Thai authorities, however, called the group 'prisoners of war' and said they would only be freed and repatriated following an end to the conflict. The Thai foreign ministry said in a separate statement Thursday that the 18 prisoners have been treated in full compliance with international humanitarian law. It said members of the International Committee of the Red Cross had visited them on Tuesday at their detention facility, and that the men were in good health and without any injury. roiled Thailand's domestic politics.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysia to host GBC meeting in September on Thai-Cambodian ceasefire progress
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has agreed to convene the next General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in September to assess the progress of the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting is expected to be held within a month, in September. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Malaysia believes the current bilateral mechanism used to resolve the conflict between the two countries is sufficient for the time being. "Everyone agrees that the bilateral mechanism currently in place is sufficient for now, while we also agree that there will be a next round at the level of the GBC meeting. "We are proud to play a role in this peace effort and appreciate the commitment and willingness of both countries' leaders," he said at a press conference today. The press conference followed the GBC meeting between Cambodian and Thai military leaders, after a series of joint working group sessions since Monday at Wisma Perwira. Among those present were Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Seiha and Thailand's acting Defence Minister General Nattaphon Narkphanit. Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali and Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar. Saifuddin said Malaysia remains steadfast in providing the necessary support to both countries as a facilitator of dialogue, confidence-building, and practical mechanisms for ceasefire monitoring. He said Asean believes in resolving disputes through consensus, not confrontation, and based on trust, mutual respect, and the principle of non-interference. He said Cambodia and Thailand's commitment to implementing the ceasefire was a significant step that reflects the Asean spirit in resolving conflicts through dialogue and mutual understanding. "This is how we strengthen regional unity. It is this Asean spirit that guides us today and will continue to guide us in the future. "Today's discussions reflect the shared understanding that the ceasefire is not temporary, but a promise to protect lives, uphold dignity, and prevent further suffering," he said. He said the promise must be honoured through commitment, effective monitoring, and genuine political will from both sides.
