Thailand and Cambodia are engaged in urgent high-level discussions aimed at de-escalating escalating tensions along their shared border. A significant meeting, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim, was scheduled for Monday, July 28, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet were set to lead their respective delegations. The Thai delegation included Maris Sangiampongsa (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Gen Natthapon Nakpanich (Deputy Minister of Defence), Prommin Lertsuridej (Secretary-General to the Prime Minister), and Jirayu Huangsap (Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office and SOC-TCBSM member).

The primary objective of these talks is to find a path to peace while unequivocally asserting Thailand’s commitment to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap firmly refuted claims that Thailand would accept Cambodia’s use of the 1:200,000 map as a negotiation basis for a ceasefire, reiterating that Thailand adheres strictly to the 1:50,000 map. He warned against spreading misinformation, especially during periods of external threats.

Adding to the diplomatic complexities, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong denial regarding social media allegations that Thailand planned to assassinate Cambodian leaders Hun Sen and Hun Manet. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information, denounced these accusations as unfounded and defamatory, emphasizing that spreading false news during General Border Committee (GBC) discussions undermines constructive dialogue and peaceful resolution efforts.

Progress in the General Border Committee (GBC) talks was reported on Wednesday, August 6, by Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation. A secretary-level agreement has been reached, awaiting review by the National Security Council (NSC) and approval by a special Cabinet meeting before the Thai Chairman proceeds to Malaysia for the final GBC meeting on August 7. Despite these diplomatic efforts, military fortifications have been enhanced in some areas, though without an increase in troop deployment. The situation near Chong An Ma, where Cambodian soldiers reportedly cut barbed wire, was resolved through negotiations, and the damaged wire has been replaced. Thailand maintains strict border control, actively apprehending illegal immigrants and coordinating with security agencies for deportations.

Regarding the detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers captured on July 29, Royal Thai Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suwaree stated that Thailand's actions are lawful under international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions. He clarified that the detainees will only be repatriated once a ceasefire is concretely and fully effective, preventing their return to combat. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the detainees on August 5, confirming adherence to humanitarian principles and international norms.

Further complicating relations, an incident involving landmine use, a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention, occurred two days after a GBC meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where Cambodia rejected Thailand’s proposal for joint landmine clearance. Thailand has taken diplomatic action, with its ambassador to the UN in Geneva sending a protest letter and its ambassador to the UN in New York meeting with the Ottawa Convention chair and UN Secretary-General to request action against Cambodia.

In response to these developments, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) is set to lead the ASEAN Interim Observation Team (IOT) to the Thai-Cambodian border from Monday to Wednesday to monitor alleged breaches of international law and ceasefire conditions. This follows successful visits organized by the Thai government for ASEAN envoys and Ottawa Convention representatives, who witnessed evidence of anti-personnel mines and spoke with affected residents. The RTA, in coordination with the Foreign and Interior Ministries, also facilitated an ICRC visit to assess the humanitarian impact of cross-border attacks on civilians in Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. The ICRC will submit a confidential report to both Thailand and Cambodia. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized Thailand's proactive efforts to clarify facts with empirical evidence globally to counter widespread Cambodian misinformation, stating Thailand's principle of resolving conflict peacefully and returning to negotiations with sincerity.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) reported that eight out of the top ten fake news items last week were related to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, underscoring the prevalence of disinformation. Both sides stress the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere during GBC meetings to reduce tensions, benefiting both nations, and paving the way for ministerial-level discussions between their Defence Ministers.