Today, Cambodia welcomed a ceasefire proposal from Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim as Malaysia and the US step up diplomatic efforts to ease the ramped-up border clashes with Thailand 🤝. The plan? A truce starting tonight at 10pm, monitored by an ASEAN observer team with US participation.
Earlier today, Anwar spoke with leaders of both Cambodia and Thailand, urging max restraint and an immediate halt to hostilities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia will also call a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting soon to map out more de-escalation steps.
US President Donald Trump joined the push via phone call with Anwar, discussing the conflict, bilateral ties, and global issues. Trump later also phoned Cambodian PM Hun Manet and Thailand’s caretaker PM Anutin Charnvirakul, with mixed claims about whether a Friday ceasefire was agreed.
On the ground, tensions remain high. Thai media reported that the Royal Thai Air Force sent two F-16 fighter jets near the Pursat Province border. Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra says civilian spots, including a hotel and bridges, came under fire, leading to 11 civilian deaths, 59 injuries, and over 303,000 people displaced 😔.
The clashes, which flared again on December 7 after a brief calm, come after earlier ceasefires in August and October. Despite past agreements in Kuala Lumpur and at the 47th ASEAN Summit, both sides accuse each other of first firing.
As night falls and the proposed ceasefire looms, young people across South and Southeast Asia are watching closely. Will diplomacy hold this time? Stay tuned for updates on this developing story 🗺️✨.
Reference(s):
Cambodia welcomes ceasefire proposal as Malaysia, U.S. mediate
cgtn.com
