Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet are set to meet for ceasefire negotiations in Malaysia on Monday, as the border clashes between the two countries entered a fifth day.
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.
