ASIA / PACIFIC—Deadly fighting along the disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand has escalated, with Cambodia reporting that Thai jets were still bombing its territory on Saturday, just hours after US President Donald Trump claimed the two nations had agreed to a ceasefire.
The renewed conflict, rooted in a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier, has killed at least 20 people this week and displaced approximately half a million civilians on both sides.
Conflicting Statements Undermine Peace Efforts
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued a defiant post on X, stating, “On December 13, 2025, the Thai military used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs” on targets, adding that “Thai military aircraft have not stopped bombing yet.” This directly contradicts an earlier announcement by President Trump.
On Friday, Trump claimed a breakthrough on his Truth Social platform: “They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me…” He said he had “a very good conversation” with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
However, Prime Minister Anutin told reporters in Thailand on Saturday that no ceasefire agreement had been reached and that the Thai military would continue fighting on the disputed border. Anutin, whose parliament was dissolved on Friday paving the way for elections, had earlier stressed that Cambodia needed to comply with the existing ceasefire, stating, “The one who violated the agreement needs to fix (the situation)—not the one that got violated.”
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The latest flare-up of violence, which began this week, marks the fiercest fighting since a five-day conflict in July. Humanitarian organizations report that the mass displacement—now involving hundreds of thousands of people—has created a critical shelter and health crisis in border provinces.
Both the United States and Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN, had previously helped broker a ceasefire in July and a follow-on declaration in October, which Thailand later suspended following a landmine incident.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated his country’s commitment to “peaceful means” but suggested the US and Malaysia use their intelligence capabilities to verify which side opened fire first on December 7, a move that highlights the deep distrust between the neighbors.
