Thai Foreign Minister: Previous Ceasefire Talks Were Rushed to Accommodate Trump

The latest round of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third week. On December 22, senior officials from both countries held their first face-to-face talks since the escalation of tensions during a special ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai stated that the ceasefire agreement signed in July was "too hasty" due to pressure from the U.S., which wanted the deal finalized before President Donald Trump's visit to Malaysia.

"Sometimes we had to speed up the process because the U.S. wanted the agreement signed before President Trump's visit," Pramudwinai said. "But often, we need to sit down and thoroughly discuss the issues to ensure the ceasefire truly reflects the situation on the ground and is an agreement that can be genuinely upheld."

He revealed that military officials from both countries would meet on December 24—a necessary step toward any potential ceasefire. Cambodia has yet to comment on the matter.

The renewed clashes, which began on December 8, mark the most severe violence since July, with both sides exchanging artillery fire along the border. Thailand also deployed fighter jets to strike Cambodian military positions. The conflict has resulted in dozens of casualties and displaced over 900,000 people.

The July clashes lasted five days, killing 50 people, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law. A ceasefire agreement was signed on August 7 in Kuala Lumpur, followed by a joint peace declaration witnessed by Trump on October 26.

On December 12, Trump called Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in an unsuccessful attempt to broker a truce.

At the ASEAN meeting, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan urged both sides to "fully and effectively implement" existing ceasefire and peace agreements, emphasizing the need for trust-building and dialogue.

Cambodia's Interior Ministry reported that over 500,000 Cambodians have fled their homes, while Thai officials estimate around 400,000 Thais have been displaced.

Cambodia reiterated its commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means, while Thailand stated it remains open to dialogue within ASEAN but set three conditions for progress: Cambodia must formally declare a ceasefire, uphold it in practice, and cooperate in border demining efforts.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude for China's leadership and efforts in restoring peace and regional stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China supports ASEAN's mediation efforts and has been actively facilitating talks. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has engaged with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, while Special Envoy Deng Xijun is conducting shuttle diplomacy between the two nations.

"Updates on Special Envoy Deng's mediation will be shared in due course. China will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalation," Lin said.