Thailand sees ceasefire with Cambodia as strategic test, not retreat

BANGKOK - A day after Thailand

agreed to end weeks of deadly fighting

with Cambodia, its defence chief framed the agreement as a strategic test of sincerity rather than a concession.

Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit said on Dec 28 that Thailand’s acceptance of a “conditional ceasefire” is meant to verify whether Cambodia can genuinely halt armed activity and threats on the ground. 

His comments, which came after the joint ceasefire declaration on Dec 27, underscore the fragility of the neighbours’ second peace deal in 2025. The earlier accord –

mediated by US President Donald Trump,

and which helped end five days of clashes in July – broke down earlier in December when several Thai soldiers were injured in landmine blasts.

The remarks also highlight how rising nationalist sentiment on both sides of the border has played a role in the recent conflict.

Both governments and their armed forces stand to benefit from tough stances against the other. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved Parliament in December for

a February 2026 election

, betting that the conflict with Cambodia will bolster support for his conservative party. 

Separately, the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia were leading delegations to China’s Yunnan province and meeting on Dec 28 and Dec 29.

China is acting as an international mediator to facilitate “fuller and more detailed communication”, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Dec 27.

The Thai and Cambodian ministers will also

meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

, and representatives of the militaries of the three countries will participate.

“China will play a constructive role in its own way for Cambodia and Thailand to consolidate the ceasefire, resume exchanges, rebuild political trust, achieve turnaround in bilateral relations and uphold regional peace,” according to the spokesperson.

Under the agreement, the two nations committed to freezing troop positions, refraining from reinforcements or movements, and avoiding attacks or provocations. Thai officials said they will closely monitor the 72-hour period following the signing of the accord, which began at noon on Dec 27. 

Mr Nattaphon reiterated that Thailand retains its right to self-defence should violations occur. Any use of force would be governed by necessity and proportionality, he said, adding that the ceasefire rests not on “trust” but on verification.

The bouts of fighting in 2025 rank among the deadliest clashes between the two countries. They stem from decades-long disputes over colonial-era maps and treaties that define the rugged border and have periodically erupted into skirmishes. 

The Royal Thai Air Force said on Dec 28 that reports of foreign cargo aircraft flying into the Cambodian capital from Belarus and elsewhere should not cause alarm, and it tracks such movements comprehensively with measures in place for any action that affects Thailand. BLOOMBERG