Thailand, Cambodia To Hold Ceasefire Talks In Malaysia With US And China Involved

The Thai government confirmed its participation in the talks, which are being hosted by Malaysia in its capacity as the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc. Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the negotiations were co-organised by the United States, with China also involved in the process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials from the U.S. State Department were already on the ground in Malaysia to support mediation efforts. “We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” Rubio said in a statement issued late Sunday in Washington and early Monday in Asia.

The talks come amid heightened tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, where recent clashes have resulted in casualties on both sides. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier expressed optimism, saying he believed both nations were ready to reach a peaceful resolution.

The involvement of both Washington and Beijing underscores the strategic significance of the conflict and the broader regional interest in ensuring stability in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia has urged an immediate and unconditional ceasefire following a third straight day of deadly border clashes with Thailand, as the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the escalating conflict.

What began as a long-simmering dispute has now erupted into intense fighting involving artillery, tanks, and fighter jets. The violence has claimed at least 16 confirmed lives, though some international reports put the death toll as high as 32, with both civilians and soldiers among the dead.

The humanitarian toll is mounting rapidly. More than 80,000 people have been displaced, 58,000 from Thailand and over 23,000 from Cambodia, as fighting spreads across multiple flashpoints along the frontier.