Thailand and Cambodia will hold high-stakes mediation talks in Malaysia on Monday, July 28, as border clashes enter their fifth day. Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend the 3 p.m. local time meeting in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as ASEAN chair. The talks proceed despite renewed artillery exchanges Sunday, with both nations accusing each other of launching fresh assaults near the contested Ta Moan Thom and Preah Vihear temples.
The summit follows intense international intervention. U.S. President Donald Trump personally pressured both leaders Saturday, threatening to halt trade deals unless hostilities ceased. Trump later announced they had agreed to seek a ceasefire, a claim Cambodia confirmed but Thailand qualified by demanding "sincere intention" from Phnom Penh first. The talks also align with ASEAN’s ceasefire proposal and an urgent UN Security Council meeting that called for de-escalation Friday.
Fighting has killed at least 34 people and displaced over 200,000 civilians since clashes erupted Thursday. Thailand reports 21 deaths (14 civilians, 7 soldiers), while Cambodia acknowledges 13 fatalities (8 civilians, 5 soldiers). On Sunday, Cambodia accused Thailand of shelling historic temples, and Thailand alleged Cambodian rockets targeted civilian homes in Surin province. A Sisaket health clinic lay in ruins after Saturday’s bombardment, its windows shattered and walls collapsed.
The conflict stems from undemarcated borders dating to 1907 French colonial maps, particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple; awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962. Thailand rejects ICJ jurisdiction and insists on bilateral resolution, while Cambodia seeks international arbitration. Tensions reignited in February when Thai troops blocked Cambodian tourists from singing their national anthem at Ta Moan Thom temple, culminating in May’s deadly skirmish that killed a Cambodian soldier.
Though both nations now engage in talks, deep mistrust persists. Thailand’s army warned Sunday that Cambodia might launch "intensified military operations" pre-negotiations, while Cambodia condemned Thailand’s "coordinated acts of aggression." Evacuees like Surin resident Bualee Chanduang voice desperation: "I pray both sides agree to end this war". With Thailand historically opposing third-party mediation, Monday’s talks face skepticism, but represent the first hope to halt Southeast Asia’s deadliest border crisis in 13 years.