Thailand Says It Will Not Be Pressured in ASEAN Border Talks with Cambodia

December 21, 2025 | 09:49 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Thailand has asserted that it will not be "pressured or disadvantaged" during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Monday, December 22, 2025, in Malaysia, where officials are set to discuss the ongoing border conflict with Cambodia.

Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokesperson for Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, said Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will lead the delegation to Malaysia, according to local news site The Nation.

"Thailand’s stance remains clear: the country seeks peace and does not pose a threat or encroach upon the sovereignty of other nations. Thailand has consistently expressed its desire for lasting peace, and Cambodia must demonstrate sincerity in this matter," Maratee said on Saturday, December 20.

She outlined three key conditions Thailand intends to present to Cambodia before agreeing to a ceasefire:

1. Cambodia must declare a ceasefire first, as the nation that initiated the attack.

2. The ceasefire must be genuine and sustained.

3. Cambodia must show sincerity in cooperating with Thailand, particularly in the joint effort to recover unexploded ordnance—an issue that Thailand cannot accept and must be addressed together.

All proposed actions will be assessed by local security agencies in coordination with the Foreign Ministry to ensure compliance with regulations.

Thailand’s military has condemned Cambodia for "using violence against civilian targets," including launching BM-21 rockets that struck homes and Phanom Dong Rak Hospital.

Cambodia, meanwhile, claims Thai F-16 jets bombed areas inside Cambodia, according to Khmer Times cited by Anadolu Agency.

Reports indicate that Thai jets destroyed O’Jik Bridge along the border between Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey on Friday night, December 19.

On Saturday, December 20, civilian areas in Thmor Da District, Pursat Province, including private commercial buildings and an elementary school, were reportedly targeted.

China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijin, visited Phnom Penh to discuss de-escalation efforts. During his visit, he met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior officials.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry said that both parties had emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and had stressed that peaceful dialogue remained the only viable way to resolve their differences..

Deng added that China will continue playing a constructive role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations.

Casualty reports indicate heavy losses on both sides. Thai authorities say 21 soldiers and one civilian were killed, while Cambodian officials report 18 civilian deaths and 78 injuries. Thailand also noted 33 additional civilian deaths indirectly caused by the conflict.

The violence continues despite a statement last week by U.S. President Donald Trump that leaders from both countries had agreed to halt fighting.

Thailand and Cambodia had signed a peace agreement in Kuala Lumpur last October, witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The agreement was suspended after Thai soldiers were seriously injured by a landmine explosion along the border.

Thailand and Cambodia have a long-standing border dispute that has periodically erupted into violence, including clashes in July 2025 that killed at least 48 people.

Read: Malaysia's Anwar Consults Cambodia, Thailand Ahead of ASEAN Talks

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