Thailand has rejected Cambodia’s request to hold upcoming bilateral border talks in a neutral country, casting uncertainty over negotiations aimed at ending renewed fighting along their shared frontier.
The long-running border dispute flared up again this month, breaking an earlier ceasefire and leaving more than 40 people dead while displacing over 900,000 residents on both sides, according to officials.
Although both countries agreed this week to resume negotiations on truce terms, Cambodia formally asked that the meeting be held in Kuala Lumpur, citing security concerns. Thailand, however, maintained that the talks would proceed as scheduled in Chanthaburi province.
Thai defence ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said Chanthaburi had been designated as the venue even before the latest fighting began and assured that it was safe for the meeting. He added that the General Border Committee discussions were planned to run from tomorrow until Saturday, stressing that it was up to Cambodia whether the talks would proceed.
Cambodian officials said they had no new information on whether the venue would be changed.
The latest clashes stem from a long-standing territorial dispute linked to colonial-era border demarcations and ancient temple sites scattered along the roughly 800km frontier. Both sides have accused each other of triggering the renewed violence since early December, with civilian areas reportedly affected.
Efforts by the United States, China and Malaysia previously helped broker a ceasefire, but fighting resumed weeks later. Following an Asean crisis meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Thailand announced plans to restart border committee talks, but Cambodia reiterated its preference for a neutral location.
Thailand’s defence minister said it was Bangkok’s turn to host, noting that the previous meeting had been held in Cambodia. He also warned that Thai forces would continue military operations as long as clashes persisted.
Meanwhile, Cambodia accused Thai forces of shelling border areas and striking parts of Preah Vihear province, claims that further complicate efforts to restore calm.
Former US President Donald Trump also weighed in, again describing the Thai-Cambodian conflict as one of several global disputes he claimed to have helped resolve, despite the fighting continuing on the ground.
