U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed another successful mediation of a ceasefire regarding the armed conflict along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, but clashes have continued locally, revealing clear differences in the two countries' positions, The Chosun reports.
Thailand has indicated its intention to continue military operations, while Cambodia has urged an immediate halt, stating that Thai airstrikes are ongoing.
On the 13th, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul wrote on Facebook, “We will continue military operations against Cambodia until we feel there is no longer any damage or threat to our land and people,” adding, “Our actions this morning (the airstrikes) already speak to this.” The previous day, President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he had phone conversations with Prime Minister Anutin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, stating, “The two countries agreed to halt all clashes starting this evening and return to the existing peace agreement,” which contradicts the current situation.
Prime Minister Hun Manet stated via Facebook on the same day that Cambodia is pursuing a peaceful resolution to the dispute in accordance with the October agreement. He added that Cambodia has requested the U.S. and others to confirm which country fired first during the recent clashes between the two nations. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense claimed via X, “(Even today) the Thai military deployed two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs on multiple targets,” adding, “Thai military aircraft are still not stopping their bombing.”
The two countries had repeatedly engaged in armed clashes since last May, but in October, during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, they jointly signed a ceasefire agreement under the mediation of President Trump. This made it seem as though the conflict between the two countries had been resolved for a time, but they clashed again following a landmine explosion incident that occurred on the 10th of last month along the border. Regarding this incident, in which two Thai soldiers were seriously injured, Thailand claims that Cambodia newly planted the landmines, but Cambodia denies this. While President Trump referred to the incident as an “accident,” Prime Minister Anutin objected, stating, “It is by no means an accidental roadside accident.”
