Thailand and Cambodia have signed a new ceasefire agreement aimed at resolving ongoing military conflicts over disputed border territories. This joint agreement was finalized on December 23, 2023, during the third special meeting of the General Boundary Committee (GBC), attended by Thai Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Tea Seiha.
The agreement seeks to reaffirm a previous ceasefire from July and introduces 16 de-escalation measures designed to stabilize the region. Among the key provisions is an immediate halt to all hostilities, which will take effect at noon on December 27, 2025. Following this ceasefire, Thailand is set to return 18 Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours, a step that reflects a commitment to reducing tensions.
Commitments to De-escalation and Humanitarian Efforts
The ceasefire agreement also includes restrictions on troop movements, pledges to avoid provocative actions, and collaborative efforts on humanitarian demining. Both nations reaffirmed their obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), welcomed the ceasefire. He stated, “The decision to halt fighting and to hold forces in place reflects a shared recognition that restraint is required, above all in the interest of civilians.”
Background of the Dispute
The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has historical roots stemming from colonial-era treaties, specifically the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1907, which ambiguously defined boundaries between Thailand and French Indochina (present-day Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia). A significant point of contention is the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favor of Cambodia in 1962, a decision reaffirmed in 2013.
While Thailand officially acknowledges Cambodia’s ownership of the temple, nationalistic sentiments among some segments of the Thai population continue to fuel tensions. Additionally, a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Malaysia in November 2023 led to a temporary withdrawal from conflict after a landmine incident injured two Thai soldiers. The escalation of military actions has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with reports indicating that 40 civilians have been killed or wounded and 800,000 people displaced from the region.
In response to the urgent need for peace, the ASEAN Chair’s Statement at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on December 22, 2023, called for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations, supported by the ASEAN Observer Team.
The recent ceasefire agreement represents a significant step toward addressing the complex and long-standing issues between Thailand and Cambodia, fostering hopes for a more stable and peaceful future in the region.
