Border negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia entered their second day on Thursday, December 25, 2025, with both sides reporting a marked reduction in clashes along disputed frontier areas. The talks, held in Thailand's Chanthaburi province, involve 30 Cambodian delegates and ASEAN observers from Malaysia, signaling regional engagement in stabilizing the situation.
Diplomatic Engagement Intensifies
The Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) secretariat meeting aims to address longstanding territorial disputes, with Thai defense officials confirming that skirmishes have become 'localized and less frequent' compared to earlier this month. A Thai military spokesperson emphasized during a Thursday briefing that de-escalation efforts are 'yielding measurable results.'
Casualties Highlight Ongoing Risks
Despite progress, two Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine during de-mining operations near Ta Kwai Temple on Thursday. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Defense Ministry reported another civilian fatality, bringing its civilian death toll to 31 since tensions escalated earlier this year. Both nations have pledged to prioritize humanitarian concerns in ongoing talks.
Path Forward
If preliminary discussions conclude successfully on Friday, December 26, defense ministers from both countries are expected to meet Saturday to formalize agreements. The three-day GBC meeting represents the highest-level diplomatic engagement between the neighbors since 2024, with ASEAN playing a visible monitoring role.
