Xinhua News Agency, Putrajaya, Malaysia, July 28th (by Wang Jiawei and Mao Pengfei) – Under the presidency of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Cambodia and Thailand held talks on the 28th and agreed to immediately and unconditionally cease fire from midnight that day, ending the border conflict between the two countries that had persisted for several days.
In the afternoon of the same day, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mong Nay and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pramoj Rajabhath led their respective high-level delegations to attend a special meeting on the situation at the Cambodian-Thai border in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
After the meeting, Anwar stated in a press conference that leaders from both Cambodia and Thailand expressed their immediate intentions to achieve a ceasefire and return to normalcy.
Anwar mentioned that Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to “immediately and unconditionally” suspend the conflict, stating that this “will be the critical first step towards reducing the situation, restoring peace and security.”
Furthermore, Anwar announced that both sides agreed to convene an informal regional commanders’ meeting at 7 AM on the 29th, followed by a joint meeting of the Cambodian-Thai border joint committee hosted by Cambodia on August 4th. He also mentioned that direct communication between the prime ministers (presidents), foreign ministers, and defense ministers of both countries will be resumed, and detailed mechanisms for the implementation, supervision, and reporting of the ceasefire will be developed with Malaysia to establish a systemic foundation for long-term peace and accountability.
Anwar emphasized that the participation of representatives from all parties at the meeting underscores their shared commitment to peace, dialogue, and regional stability. Following this, Malaysia will collaborate with other ASEAN member states to dispatch observation teams to ensure both sides earnestly fulfill their peace commitments.
Hun Mong Nay stated that the successful outcome of this special meeting creates conditions for advancing the normalization of relations between the two countries. Pramoj Rajabhath remarked that the discussions were conducted with sincerity, reflecting Thailand’s willingness to actively seek peaceful solutions.
Following Anwar’s lead, Hun Mong Nay and Pramoj Rajabhath shook hands in front of the media after the press conference.
Cambodia and Thailand have been embroiled in a conflict along their border since the 24th, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law. According to data released by both parties, the conflict has resulted in hundreds of casualties and over 100,000 people being forced to evacuate to safety zones.
As the ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia has been actively promoting negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand in recent days, hoping to ease tensions through dialogue and fully leverage ASEAN’s role in maintaining regional peace and stability. (End)
News background | Timeline of Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict (Xinhua News Agency)
Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Anwar, Cambodia and Thailand held negotiations on the 28th and agreed to “immediately and unconditionally” cease fire from midnight that day, ending the border conflict that had persisted for several days. Following the joint press conference held by the three parties, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Ma Nai and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phatthawan shook hands in front of the media. Below is the timeline since May 28 when a brief conflict occurred at the border between Cambodia and Thailand, resulting in one Cambodian soldier’s death:
——On the morning of May 28, a short conflict occurred at a location where there was a land dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, located in Ubon Ratchathani Province in the northeast of Thailand, where they share a border. The firefight lasted about 10 minutes. The commanders on both sides then contacted each other, and the firefight came to an end. This brief exchange of fire resulted in one Cambodian soldier’s death, with no injuries reported on Thai side, stating that it was Cambodia who initiated the firefight, which was retaliated upon by Thailand.
——On the evening of May 28, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the media that she had spoken with Hun Ma Nai, agreeing to quickly de-escalate tensions to prevent further escalation.
——On May 29, the Cambodian Army issued a statement saying that Cambodia and Thailand had reached an agreement to maintain restraint and avoid armed clashes in the disputed border area.
On June 6th, Anwar stated on social media that he had reached out to Pentang and Hmong Nai, urging both Thai and Cambodian sides to maintain restraint and take measures to ease tensions, working together to seek a comprehensive solution.
On June 7th, Hmong Nai posted on social media expressing hope for a peaceful resolution of the Cambodian-Thai border issue. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that following a brief conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces at the border dispute area at the end of May, Thailand had been striving to resolve the dispute through peaceful means.
On June 8th, Pentang mentioned that both Thai and Cambodian sides had agreed to adjust troop deployment locations at the border dispute site where the conflict occurred at the end of last month, in an effort to alleviate tensions.
On June 9th, a spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicander, responded to questions during a meeting in Bangkok, stating that Thailand had taken reciprocal measures by reducing the stay period for Cambodian citizens entering Thailand to seven days.
On June 11th, Nicander announced that Thailand planned to cut off power and internet connectivity in the border areas with Thailand, with the sole purpose of combating transnational crimes such as human trafficking and cyber fraud to ensure the safety of the peoples of both countries. He emphasized that this action should not be seen as a political tool in negotiations with Cambodia. Thailand once again called on Cambodia to crack down on false information to prevent misunderstandings.
On June 12th, the Cambodian Ministry of Information released a statement saying that starting from midnight that day, all Cambodian television stations must cease broadcasting Thai dramas and movies. Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Chea Vann, stated on social media that in response to Thai threats, all Cambodian telecommunications operators have now cut off cross-border internet connections with Thailand.
On June 13th, Hun Sen, Chairman of the Cambodian People’s Party and President of the Senate, posted on social media stating that if Thailand continues to implement restrictions along the Cambodian-Thai border, Cambodia would take corresponding measures.
Hun Sen stated that the Kingdom of Cambodia plans to implement six measures in response, including suspending imports of Thai goods, finding new markets for previously exported goods to Thailand, halting patients from seeking medical treatment in Thailand, receiving returned workers from Thailand, maintaining high alertness by the armed forces, and preparing emergency responses in border provinces.
On June 14th, Nixon held a meeting to reaffirm that Thailand has never recognized the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. The Thai side advocates for resolving related issues through bilateral mechanisms and diplomatic dialogue, which has proven to be the most effective and appropriate approach.
From June 14th to 15th, the Joint Border Committee between Cambodia and Thailand convened in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, to discuss border issues between the two countries. This marks the first joint border committee meeting between the two nations after 12 years. The officials discussed and approved plans for dispatching joint survey teams, conducting boundary surveys at actual positions agreed upon by both sides, and delineating the boundaries. Both parties signed the meeting minutes and planned to meet again in Thailand in September. The meeting did not address four disputed border areas.
On June 15th, Hun Ma Nai mentioned on social media that the Cambodian government had submitted an official letter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, seeking resolution of the border dispute with Thailand through the court.
On June 16th, Hun Sen announced that if the Thai military does not restore normal passage along the Cambodian-Thai border within 24 hours, Cambodia would fully prohibit the entry of Thai agricultural products starting from the 17th.
On June 17th, the Cambodian Immigration Department confirmed to Xinhua News Agency that due to the failure of Thai border ports to operate normally, Cambodia would ban all Thai fruits and vegetables entering through border ports from the morning of the same day.
On June 18th, a recording of a phone conversation between Pich Thong and Hun Sen over the situation at the Cambodian-Thai border sparked controversy in Thailand. The ruling coalition’s second largest party, the Party of Pride, declared its withdrawal from the governing alliance led by Pich Thong on the same day and urged Pich Thong to take responsibility for the damage caused by the recording.
On June 22, Hongmanai stated on her official social media account that due to ongoing border disputes, Cambodia has completely closed two border ports that border Thailand. On the same day, Cambodia announced a ban from midnight on June 22 on importing fuel and natural gas from Thailand, and advised citizens of Cambodia to avoid traveling to Thailand.
On June 23, Petontham announced that Thailand would enhance border control measures with Cambodia to significantly strengthen its efforts in combating transnational crime. At a press conference held at the Prime Minister’s Office, Petontham mentioned that the Thai government would further tighten border control in areas adjacent to Cambodia, including restricting the opening hours of border checkpoints in seven border provinces and prohibiting non-essential cross-border travel for vehicles and individuals.
On July 3, the Thai government convened a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, authorizing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Phunthong to fully assume the duties of the Prime Minister while the Prime Minister is temporarily suspended by the Constitutional Court.
On July 23, Phunthong reported that a Thai soldier had been killed by a landmine while patrolling the Thai-Cambodian border, leading to the government adopting the military’s suggestion and ordering the closure of all border checkpoints under the jurisdiction of the Second Army of Thailand, strictly prohibiting entry of tourists, and deciding to lower the diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia. The ambassadors from both countries were recalled, and further assessments of the level of bilateral relations will be made depending on the situation.
On July 24, a conflict occurred at the border area between Cambodia and Thailand, according to reports from Thailand, resulting in 11 deaths and 28 injuries. Following the conflict, both sides accused each other of violating international law, and diplomatic relations between the two countries continued to deteriorate. Thailand announced it would close all border ports with Cambodia. Cambodia stated that two provinces in its border region with Thailand were hit by artillery fire from Thailand.
On July 25, the escalation of the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia continued.
According to the reports from both sides, the conflict has resulted in over 20 civilian deaths and dozens of injuries, with more than 100,000 people being evacuated from the border region. Malaysia stated that as the ASEAN Chair for this year, it is highly concerned about the escalation of tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border and calls on both parties to immediately cease fire.
On July 26th, the third day of the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, according to data released by both sides, the conflict has caused hundreds of casualties and forced over 100,000 people to be evacuated to safe areas. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency closed meeting on July 25th regarding the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, where both sides proposed resolving the dispute through peaceful means.
On July 27th, the fourth day of the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Cambodia opened fire early in the morning. The Cambodian Ministry of Defense reported that the conflict has led to 80,000 Cambodian civilians fleeing their homes.
On the morning of July 28th, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, Maly Sitheakha, announced that Thailand opened fire first in the early hours of the day, marking the fifth day of the border conflict between the two countries. The Thai military stated that Cambodia’s attacks have continued throughout the night.
In the afternoon of July 28th, under the presidency of Anwar, Cambodia and Thailand negotiated and agreed to “immediately and unconditionally” cease fire at midnight, ending the ongoing border conflict between the two nations for several days. Anwar also mentioned that both sides agreed to convene an informal regional commanders’ meeting at 7 AM on July 29th and a joint border committee meeting hosted by Cambodia on August 4th.