Thailand, Cambodia to Hold Mediation Talks in Malaysia Amid Escalating Border Conflict

In June, Cambodia formally requested the ICJ to resolve its border disputes with Thailand.

By DTD- On Jul 27, 2025

BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR – The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are set to attend emergency mediation talks in Malaysia on Monday to address their deadly border conflict, as tensions continue to escalate with renewed artillery fire reported across contested areas.

According to a statement from the Thai government, acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will lead the Thai delegation during the 3:00 PM talks in Kuala Lumpur. Cambodia has confirmed that Prime Minister Hun Manet will also participate. The talks are being facilitated by Malaysia, which currently chairs the ASEAN regional cooperation forum.

The meeting comes amid the worst fighting between the two Southeast Asian nations in more than a decade. Clashes reignited on Thursday, following the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier in a brief border skirmish. The conflict has since spiraled into a full-blown diplomatic and military crisis.

Rising Toll and Evacuations

Over the past four days, the conflict has claimed more than 30 lives — including 13 civilians in Thailand and 8 in Cambodia — with both sides blaming each other for the escalation. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from areas near the 817-kilometre shared border.

Reports from Thailand’s Sisaket province on Sunday described constant shelling, with local health facilities damaged and residents forced to seek shelter in makeshift bunkers. A government health clinic just 10 kilometers from the border was left in ruins following an artillery strike on Saturday.

Mutual Accusations and Diplomatic Pressure

Cambodia’s Defence Ministry accused Thailand of launching ground assaults and shelling heritage sites, including historic temple complexes. Meanwhile, the Thai military said Cambodian forces had targeted civilian areas and were deploying long-range rocket systems in preparation for intensified attacks.

“The situation remains tense and Cambodian troops may be preparing intensified military operations to inflict maximum damage in the final stages before negotiations,” the Thai army said in a statement.

Calls for peace have been mounting. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed a ceasefire last week, while former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that both leaders had agreed to pursue de-escalation efforts.

Longstanding Dispute Over Sacred Sites

The current conflict is rooted in a decades-old territorial dispute over undemarcated sections of the Thailand-Cambodia border, particularly the ownership of ancient Hindu temples such as Ta Moan Thom and the Preah Vihear temple.

Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, tensions flared again in 2008 when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the site. Sporadic clashes over the years have resulted in dozens of deaths.

In June, Cambodia formally requested the ICJ to resolve its border disputes with Thailand. However, Bangkok maintains that it does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and favors a bilateral resolution.

Hope Amid Hostilities

Despite the intensifying conflict, some residents and observers remain hopeful that Monday’s talks can bring an end to the violence.

“It’s great that America is insisting on the ceasefire because it would bring peace,” said Sisaket resident Thavorn Toosawan.

Cambodian university student Sreung Nita echoed the sentiment: “For me, I think it is great if Thailand agreed to stop fighting so both countries can live with peace.”

As the talks commence in Kuala Lumpur, regional and international observers will be watching closely for signs of progress toward a ceasefire and long-term resolution.