On Wednesday, Thailand and Cambodia restarted discussions focused on achieving a sustainable cessation of hostilities along their shared frontier, as confirmed by reports from Thai media sources including The Nation newspaper.
Military-Level Meeting
A gathering involving high-ranking military officials occurred at a border crossing in Thailand's eastern Chanthaburi Province, lasting approximately 35 minutes. These negotiations, expected to extend over multiple days, represent the most substantial effort by both nations to end violence that reignited over two weeks ago.
According to media accounts, Wednesday's concise session was designed to lay groundwork for higher-level talks scheduled for Saturday involving defense ministers. Meanwhile, a joint committee addressing border matters will continue its work at the state secretary level.
Official Statements
A spokesperson for Thailand's Defense Ministry informed reporters in Bangkok that if progress is made in current discussions, the ministerial meeting will proceed as planned. From Cambodia's perspective, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman stated through the AKP state news agency that the ministers' meeting aims to develop solutions for restoring stability between the two countries.
Clashes have occurred at various locations along the approximately 800-kilometer Thai-Cambodian border. Both nations have exchanged accusations regarding attacks on civilian populations, with each side denying the other's claims.
Historical Context
The confrontation originates from territorial disagreements spanning decades, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents on both sides of the border. Intense fighting initially broke out in July, leading to a ceasefire agreement after several days. This truce was interrupted in November following renewed border incidents, and since December 7, the situation has worsened due to cross-border exchanges of fire.
