High-stakes negotiations between the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to take place in Malaysia on Monday in an effort to secure an immediate truce in their increasing border war, which has resulted in the deaths of over 30 people and the displacement of over 200,000 civilians.
China is participating in the discussions, which are being co-organized with the United States and mediated by Malaysia, the current chair of the ASEAN bloc. The conference is anticipated to be chaired by Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia.
American diplomats were already in Kuala Lumpur to help with the process, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed late Sunday. In a statement, Rubio stated, “We want this conflict to end as soon as possible.”
“To support these peace efforts, State Department officials are present in Malaysia.”
Since a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border incident in late May, tensions between the two neighbors in Southeast Asia have been gradually increasing. Last Thursday saw the fiercest fighting between the two nations in more than ten years as the situation quickly worsened into full-scale hostilities.
More than 30 people have died in the clashes so far, including at least 20 civilians, and both nations have increased their border forces. Eight districts in Thailand have been placed under martial law, and Cambodia has accused its neighbor of employing cluster munitions, which are prohibited by international agreements.
With Thai officials stating that over 138,000 people have been evacuated and Cambodian authorities evacuating about 70,000 from the northern Preah Vihear province, the escalating violence has caused a major exodus from impacted districts.
Anwar Ibrahim told Bernama that he was currently figuring out the terms for negotiations after being asked to arbitrate by both parties. Anwar stated on Sunday evening that an immediate ceasefire is crucial. “I’m talking about the conditions and the parameters.”
At first, Cambodia had insisted on international mediation, while Thailand had stated that it preferred bilateral discussions. The fact that both Chinese and American officials are in Kuala Lumpur suggests a larger geopolitical interest in keeping the crisis under control, which might destabilize the entire area.
Though officials in both capitals have voiced cautious optimism about the outcome of the talks held by Malaysia, neither Bangkok nor Phnom Penh has yet to announce specific actions to enhance confidence.
Despite warnings that long-standing hostility and unsolved territorial disputes, especially around the historic Preah Vihear temple, continue to hinder hopes for a long-term settlement, observers say the presence of major nations may help reduce tensions.
Despite holding an emergency meeting behind closed doors on Friday, the UN Security Council has not yet released a statement to the public. As the crisis worsens, ASEAN, which has frequently been criticized for its non-interference stance, is now facing increased pressure to act decisively.
