Vietnam welcomes new Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire amid border clashes

The foreign ministry's spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made the announcement at a press briefing in Hanoi in response to questions about Vietnam’s reaction to the ceasefire, which was included in a joint statement at the third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee between Thailand and Cambodia.

The truce took effect at 12:00 pm on Saturday, committing both sides to halting all hostilities along the border.

“Vietnam welcomes the signing of the joint statement, in which Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire and measures to de-escalate tensions along their shared border,” Hang said.

Vietnam trusts that both countries will fully implement the agreements outlined in the statement and continue negotiations to resolve disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, she said.

The spokeswoman added that the talks should be guided by ASEAN’s spirit of friendship and solidarity, for the long-term benefits of both countries and the region.

“Vietnam will continue to closely monitor the situation, maintain communication with both countries, and actively participate in ASEAN’s joint efforts to address the disputes, including strengthening the role of the ASEAN Observers Team,” she stressed.

The truce covers all types of weapons and explicitly prohibits attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and military targets.

Both countries have also agreed to freeze troop movements and allow displaced civilians to return home.

In addition, the two sides will cooperate on mine clearance and cybersecurity, while Thailand is set to release 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the conflict within 72 hours of the joint statement.

The new ceasefire was reached amid clashes that had spread across nearly all border provinces of Thailand and Cambodia, breaking a previous truce reached in July under the witness of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Officials from both countries reported that over the past three weeks, clashes involving artillery, tanks, drones, and fighter jets have caused at least 47 deaths and displaced more than one million people on both sides.

In a statement on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the new ceasefire, urging Cambodia and Thailand “to immediately honor this commitment and fully implement the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” AFP reported.