(Bangkok/Phnom Penh, 27th) The Thai Prime Minister stated that Thai and Cambodian defense ministers will participate in ceasefire negotiations on Saturday (December 27). As the Thai military recently indicated that it would not advance to the defense minister-level talks if the secretariat-level negotiations failed to reach certain consensus, the Thai side's disclosure that defense ministers will join the talks is seen as a positive sign that a ceasefire agreement may be achieved.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin said on Friday (26th) that if Thai Defense Minister Natthapon can reach an agreement with his Cambodian counterpart, both countries will sign a new ceasefire agreement based on the consensus previously reached under U.S. President Trump’s mediation.
Anutin emphasized: “It is important that both sides keep their commitments, do not threaten, offend, or provoke each other, and reduce hostilities between the two countries.”
He said he hopes an agreement can be reached this time, so that peace can be restored to the border region and displaced people can return home. The new round of armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third week, causing at least 98 deaths on both sides and displacing over 500,000 people.
As for the Thai side’s claim that defense ministers will meet directly, by press time, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense had not responded to media inquiries.
Thailand’s ‘The Nation’ reported on Friday that Anutin also denied any suggestion that Thailand might withdraw troops under the ‘Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement’ framework.
“We have never occupied any land, only rebuilt security and sovereignty on our own territory, reaffirming the country's territorial integrity.”
The secretariat-level meetings of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Affairs Committee started Wednesday (24th). The atmosphere during the first two days’ negotiations was tense, as Cambodia repeatedly refused to accept Thailand's three ceasefire conditions.
According to Thai media reports, the first day of talks lasted only 30 minutes. The Thai side reiterated a three-point ceasefire proposal: Cambodia must initiate the ceasefire, the ceasefire must be real and sustained, and Cambodia must seriously and sincerely carry out mine-clearing cooperation.
On the second day (25th), after the talks began in the morning, the Cambodian side also put forward its own conditions. As a result, the meeting was suspended and rescheduled for the afternoon, but was postponed three times before finally resuming at 7:40 pm, with both sides remaining deadlocked and unwilling to compromise. At the time, an ASEAN observer delegation led by Malaysia was also present.
The Thai Ministry of Defense recently stated that if the secretariat-level discussions cannot reach a consensus on key technical frameworks such as troop deployment, Thailand will not proceed to Saturday’s Joint Border Affairs Committee meeting nor sign any agreement.
According to the
Anutin emphasized: “It is important that both sides keep their commitments, do not threaten, offend, or provoke each other, and reduce hostilities between the two countries.”
He said he hopes an agreement can be reached this time, so that peace can be restored to the border region and displaced people can return home. The new round of armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third week, causing at least 98 deaths on both sides and displacing over 500,000 people.
As for the Thai side’s claim that defense ministers will meet directly, by press time, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense had not responded to media inquiries.
Thailand’s ‘The Nation’ reported on Friday that Anutin also denied any suggestion that Thailand might withdraw troops under the ‘Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement’ framework.
“We have never occupied any land, only rebuilt security and sovereignty on our own territory, reaffirming the country's territorial integrity.”
The secretariat-level meetings of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Affairs Committee started Wednesday (24th). The atmosphere during the first two days’ negotiations was tense, as Cambodia repeatedly refused to accept Thailand's three ceasefire conditions.
According to Thai media reports, the first day of talks lasted only 30 minutes. The Thai side reiterated a three-point ceasefire proposal: Cambodia must initiate the ceasefire, the ceasefire must be real and sustained, and Cambodia must seriously and sincerely carry out mine-clearing cooperation.
On the second day (25th), after the talks began in the morning, the Cambodian side also put forward its own conditions. As a result, the meeting was suspended and rescheduled for the afternoon, but was postponed three times before finally resuming at 7:40 pm, with both sides remaining deadlocked and unwilling to compromise. At the time, an ASEAN observer delegation led by Malaysia was also present.
The Thai Ministry of Defense recently stated that if the secretariat-level discussions cannot reach a consensus on key technical frameworks such as troop deployment, Thailand will not proceed to Saturday’s Joint Border Affairs Committee meeting nor sign any agreement.
According to the