Thailand Cambodia ceasefire tensions remained high Wednesday as both nations traded accusations of fresh violations along their contested frontier. Despite a truce agreed on Monday in Malaysia, Thai officials accused Cambodian forces of firing small arms and mortars overnight.
Cambodia denied those claims and accused Thailand of illegally capturing 20 of its soldiers during recent clashes. Cambodia responded by taking foreign diplomats and military attachés to a destroyed checkpoint in Preach Vihear province, asking them to verify Thai actions.
A Cambodian general said one soldier escaped, two were believed dead, and Thai forces were holding the remaining. Thailand confirmed it was carrying 18 Cambodian soldiers who surrendered in Sisaket province, saying they would be returned after a lasting ceasefire. Officials added that the bodies of two soldiers had already been returned.
The conflict erupted after Thailand accused Cambodia of planting landmines that injured Thai troops. Cambodia rejected the accusation, while analysts say the ceasefire was partly driven by economic pressure from the United States.
President Donald Trump warned both countries of possible trade repercussions if fighting continued. 36% tariffs are set to hit exports on Friday. The looming deadline incentivized both governments to agree to a truce quickly.
Troops from both sides remain along the border, where artillery exchanges killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000. A meeting of defense ministers from both countries is scheduled for August 4 in Cambodia to seek longer-term solutions.
Thai and Cambodian commanders also agreed to halt troop movements and form coordination teams to de-escalate future incidents. Although some displaced families returned home, thousands remain in border shelters, awaiting safety assurances.
