Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow Malaysia to mediate their escalating border conflict, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan confirmed on Monday, as both countries continued to trade artillery fire across disputed territory.
Speaking to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama, Hasan said both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai were expected to arrive in Malaysia Monday evening for preliminary talks. The agreement comes after Malaysia, currently chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), proposed a ceasefire amid mounting casualties and displacement.
“They have full confidence in Malaysia and asked me to be a mediator,” Hasan said, adding that both sides agreed no other country should be involved in resolving the dispute.
The diplomatic breakthrough follows efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said over the weekend that the two leaders had agreed to work toward a ceasefire after separate discussions with Washington.
Despite the diplomatic overtures, fresh fighting erupted early Monday near two long-contested ancient temple sites along the rugged frontier between northern Cambodia and northeastern Thailand. Cambodian officials accused Thai forces of launching artillery attacks at 4:50 a.m., while Thai military sources said Cambodian troops began firing around 4:00 a.m.
The sound of artillery shelling echoed in the Cambodian town of Samraong, located about 20 kilometers from the conflict zone, according to AFP reporters in the area.
The recent flare-up marks the worst violence in over a decade between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. At least 34 people have been killed in the past four days, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia. More than 200,000 people have been displaced from the border region as jets, tanks, and ground troops continue to clash in the dense jungle and farmland areas.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said his country had agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” adding that Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn would coordinate with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Thai counterparts to advance peace talks.
Thailand, while expressing support for talks, accused Cambodia of lacking sincerity. Its foreign ministry said that “any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law.”
Cambodia denied the accusations, calling Thailand’s claims “deliberate and coordinated acts of aggression.”
Following an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, Cambodia’s UN Ambassador Chhea Keo reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also urged both nations to “immediately agree to a ceasefire” and resume dialogue to reach a lasting solution.
