Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to avoid escalating their ongoing border dispute, including military activities by Thai troops, to prevent rising tensions and to curb the spread of misinformation that could spark clashes.
In a joint statement released on August 27, the Cambodia–Thailand Regional Border Committee said both sides had committed to maintaining regular communication between local military units along the frontier. The statement also underlined the importance of avoiding false or misleading information in order to prevent confrontation.
The agreement specifies that all security operations, such as patrols, construction, and the expansion of defensive infrastructure, must remain strictly within each country’s territory in line with the ceasefire conditions already accepted by both governments.
The two sides also highlighted the importance of strengthening relations at all levels, building trust and promoting good neighbourliness to encourage cooperation across multiple sectors and a return to normalcy.
The extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand Regional Border Committee was held on August 27 at the international border gate in Chom district of Oddar Meanchey province. The Cambodian delegation was led by Pov Heng, Commander of the Fourth Regional Army, while the Thai delegation was led by Boonsin Padklang, Commander of the Second Regional Army.
This was the third extraordinary meeting between the two sides in recent weeks, following talks hosted by Thailand on August 22 and by Cambodia on August 25. A separate General Border Committee meeting, with Cambodia as host, is scheduled for September 9 and 10.
Following the latest talks, Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Seiha wrote on Facebook that he welcomed the positive outcome of the meeting. He said the discussions reflected the spirit of unity in implementing the 13-point ceasefire agreement reached at the General Border Committee meeting on August 7.
However, in a statement issued on August 26, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that despite the continued meetings, Thai forces were still violating Cambodian territory.
On the same day, Thai newspaper Khaosod quoted acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai as saying that regarding Cambodia’s demand to remove a barbed-wire fence, the Thai government had no authority to decide on the matter because responsibility for border protection had already been handed to the Thai military.
