KUALA LUMPUR — Cambodia and Thailand agreed on Thursday to station Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) observers in their disputed border regions. The decision follows a fragile ceasefire after five days of intense clashes in late July that left at least 43 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 on both sides.
The countries’ defence ministers – Tea Seiha (Cambodia) and Nattaphon Narkphanit (Thailand) – met in Kuala Lumpur and agreed to set up monitoring teams composed of ASEAN military attachés, led by Malaysia. These teams will operate only within their host countries without crossing the border.
Further bilateral meetings are already scheduled in two weeks and again within a month, as confirmed in a joint statement.
13-Point Ceasefire Agreement Comes into Effect
Alongside the observer decision, a comprehensive 13-point ceasefire plan was adopted, including:
- Complete, unconditional ceasefire
- Protection of civilians
- No troop movements or reinforcements
- Coordination mechanisms for rapid conflict resolution
- No provocations or territorial incursions
Both sides stressed that the agreement “must not be violated under any circumstances”, warning that any breach could jeopardize the hard-won de-escalation.
External Influence: Trump Nominated as Peace Broker
The United States played a central role in de-escalation: According to a Reuters exclusive, negotiations only gained momentum after US President Donald Trump linked the continuation of traditional trade talks to the restoration of peace.
China and Malaysia had previously called for restraint without success.
In recognition of this intervention, Prime Minister Hun Manet nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his pivotal role in brokering the ceasefire.
Background: Decades-Old Border Dispute
The conflict stems from long-standing disputes over the 817-kilometer, poorly demarcated land border first mapped by France in 1907 during its colonial rule.
The most recent flare-up began with a landmine explosion in early July, triggering large-scale fighting. A ceasefire finally took effect on 28 July.