BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR – Cambodian and Thai officials will convene on December 24 under the General Border Committee (GBC) to negotiate a return to ceasefire, following a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur that provided a crucial pause in hostilities now stretching into a third week. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced the ASEAN Chair’s statement, welcoming the resumption of ceasefire talks and urging swift de-escalation.
The GBC, co-chaired by both countries’ defence ministers, will meet at the border in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province to discuss implementation and verification of a ceasefire. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stressed the importance of a detailed plan to ensure the ceasefire “really holds,” cautioning against rushed agreements. He also expressed concern over US President Donald Trump’s premature claims about the conflict, noting the complexities of the situation cannot always fit a fixed diplomatic timeline.
The peace deal brokered in October, signed during the ASEAN Summit with US involvement, was suspended by Thailand in November over accusations of new landmine deployments by Cambodia—a claim Phnom Penh denies. Recent clashes have claimed at least 40 lives and displaced over 900,000 civilians since December 8, with air strikes and shelling reported on both sides.
China has stepped up its mediation efforts, dispatching Special Envoy Deng Xijun on a shuttle diplomacy mission to both capitals. Chinese officials have emphasized dialogue as the only path to resolving differences, contrasting with US approaches that have sometimes prioritized instant results. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul remains defiant, insisting Thailand will not yield to international pressure and accusing Cambodia of aggression.
Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders, including Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, have personally engaged with both sides to encourage de-escalation. The US State Department reiterated its call for an end to hostilities, welcoming ASEAN’s efforts to restore peace. The outcome of the December 24 GBC talks will be closely watched as both nations grapple with deep-seated distrust and rising nationalist sentiment.