Thai-Cambodian border tensions persist as ceasefire efforts stall

Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continue to escalate despite diplomatic mediation efforts led by Malaysia and the United States, with Thailand's army confirming no ceasefire is in place and reporting fresh attacks on civilian areas.

On Sunday, Thai Army spokesperson Winthai Suvari said there is no current ceasefire arrangement, citing ongoing Cambodian attacks on Thai military positions and civilian areas. The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of launching BM-21 rocket attacks on a civilian community and school zone in Sisaket Province, killing one civilian and setting a residence on fire. This follows Thai media reports of Royal Thai Air Force F-16 fighter jets conducting strikes near the Cambodian border on December 13.

The latest round of hostilities, which began on December 7, has seen intensified shelling and military strikes on both sides. On December 13, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim –acting in his capacity as ASEAN chair – proposed an immediate ceasefire to take effect at 10 p.m. that day, monitored by an ASEAN observer team with U.S. participation. Cambodia promptly welcomed the initiative, with Prime Minister Hun Manet expressing support for the ceasefire in a social media post.

Cambodian Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra countered that Thai airstrikes hit a hotel and two bridges in Pursat Province's Veal Veng District, targeting civilian infrastructure and residential villages. As of December 12, Cambodian authorities reported 11 civilian deaths, 59 injuries and more than 303,000 displaced people across five provinces due to Thai military operations.

Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to bridge the divide. U.S. President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on December 12, with Trump later claiming both sides agreed to a ceasefire – an assertion quickly denied by Thailand. Anutin affirmed on December 13 that Thailand would continue military operations until its territory and people are no longer threatened.

Malaysia has pledged to convene a special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting soon to assess the situation. The conflict marks a breakdown of previous progress, including a  ceasefire agreement on August 7 and a joint peace statement signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit on October 26.

The escalating tensions have raised concerns across the region, with ASEAN facing mounting pressure to uphold its principle of good neighborliness and facilitate a peaceful resolution. Both sides have accused each other of firing first, echoing the July confrontations that injured hundreds and displaced over 100,000 residents.

As the situation on the ground worsens, the international community continues to call for restraint and a return to dialogue through bilateral channels and ASEAN mechanisms.

(Cover: A woman and her son rest at a temporary camp for displaced people set up at a former market in Banteay Meanchey province, amid clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border, December 13, 2025. /VCG)