South East Asia’s top diplomats met today in Malaysia in a bid to end deadly border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia that have killed at least 41 people and displaced close to one million others. The talks aim to revive a ceasefire brokered in July by Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, alongside US President Donald Trump. 

 

This was the first meeting between officials of Thailand and Cambodia since fighting resumed on 8th December. Both countries have blamed each other for the fresh hostilities. In his opening remarks, Malaysia’s foreign minister asked both sides and other ASEAN members to give the matter the most urgent attention. 

 

This conflict is rooted in a century-old dispute over the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site located on a cliff between the two countries. While the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, the surrounding land remains disputed, leading to decades of periodic military skirmishes. 

 

Cambodia has said that the talks aim to restore peace, stability and good neighbourly relations, adding that it would reaffirm its position that the disputes should be resolved through peaceful means.

 

Thailand, while calling the meeting an important opportunity, reiterated its conditions for negotiations, including a declaration of ceasefire from Cambodia first and a “genuine and sustained” ceasefire.

 

The US and China have also been attempting to mediate a new ceasefire.