PUTRAJAYA —Peace negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand began Monday in Malaysia as violent border clashes entered a fifth day, leaving at least 33 people dead and forcing more than 270,000 from their homes. The peace talks are taking place at the official residence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is mediating the meeting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai are leading their respective delegations. Officials from the United States and China are also attending.
Tensions erupted on July 24 along the contested border region between Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia and Thailand’s Surin Province. Thailand reported 22 deaths including 14 civilians and more than 100 injuries. Cambodia has yet to release an official casualty count, but local reports estimate at least 11 deaths on its side.
The violence has displaced around 135,000 Cambodians and 140,000 Thais, according to figures from the Khmer Times and the Thai military.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Hun Manet urged an “immediate ceasefire,” thanking Malaysia for facilitating the talks. Thailand’s Phumtham Wechayachai, however, accused Cambodia of provoking the violence and said his government would assess “genuine intent” before committing to any ceasefire agreement.
“We do not believe Cambodia is acting in good faith, based on their actions in addressing the issue,” PM Phumtham said at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport before flying to the talks.
The conflict traces its roots to a century-old border dispute dating back to French colonial rule in Cambodia. Tensions flared again in 2008 over competing claims to an 11th-century temple. Sporadic clashes have occurred since then, with the most recent escalation beginning in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed.
This latest round of fighting was sparked by a rocket strike on Thai positions last Thursday, followed by retaliatory airstrikes from Thailand, according to Thai defense officials. Cambodian forces reportedly deployed BM-21 rocket launchers in border provinces, escalating the confrontation.
As fighting intensified, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning over the weekend that trade negotiations with both countries would be suspended until they agreed to stop hostilities. “There will be NO talks on tariffs until the fighting STOPS,” President Trump posted on Truth Social.
The United States and China both key economic partners of the two nations have called for calm. Beijing’s foreign ministry urged both sides to “exercise restraint and prioritize the shared interests of their people.”
Inside Cambodia, families have fled en masse from border districts like Choam Ksant. Aerial images show rows of blue tents sheltering evacuees in Oddar Meanchey. In Thailand’s Surin province, temporary shelters have been set up for those displaced.
“I am thinking so much about him,” said 70-year-old Meas Sovanarith, who fled to Samraong with his family after his son, a Cambodian soldier, was deployed to the frontline. “Our Khmer citizens don’t want war at all,” he said.
The economic impact is already visible. Cambodia’s labor ministry reported that 400,000 Cambodian migrant workers have returned home from Thailand as the conflict disrupted employment and cross-border trade.
The peace talks mark the first high-level negotiations since the violence erupted. Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, currently chairing ASEAN, pushed for the meeting as part of the regional bloc’s effort to de-escalate the conflict.
The outcome of the talks remains uncertain. Hun Manet insists on an immediate truce, while PM Phumtham demands proof of Cambodia’s commitment to peace. Both sides accuse the other of firing first, and trust appears to be in short supply.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that American diplomats are participating in the talks. “We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” he said.
No formal ceasefire has yet been declared. Fighting reportedly continued overnight in some parts of the disputed border zone. The talks are expected to extend into the evening, with further announcements anticipated from Malaysia’s foreign ministry.
Until then, thousands remain displaced and uncertain, waiting for the outcome of talks that could decide whether peace or more violence lies ahead.
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