Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
UPDATES:
5:05 pm: As of 4:00 pm, there have been no reports of clashes following the ceasefire that came into effect at 12:00 pm, according to National Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata. However, the Cambodian military is on standby and continues to observe the situation, she said at the press briefing on Saturday afternoon.
1:35 pm: Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn will attend a trilateral meeting between Cambodia, Thailand and China to discuss the recent development on the current situation with Thailand from December 28 to 29, 2025, in Yunnan province, China, according to a statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The meeting aims to facilitate candid and constructive exchange on the current situation of two counties, with a view fostering mutual confidence, promoting de-escalation and restoring peace, security. In addition, Sokhonn will hold bilateral discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an “immediate ceasefire” effective 12:00 pm on December 27 following discussions at the Special GBC Meeting, according to National Defense Minister Tea Seiha.
“After the ceasefire is fully implemented in 72-hours, it will provide the Thai side the possibility to release the 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been detained for 151 days,” Seiha said at a press conference on Saturday.
“I hope with this ceasefire, we will have calm for up to 72-hours to ensure that this ceasefire allows the return of 18 soldiers to Cambodia to reunite with their family,” he added.
He said that a ceasefire will pave the way for the return of displaced people to their homes, by following the recommendation of the government and provincial authorities.
Seiha noted that the ceasefire does not affect the border demarcation between Cambodia-Thailand.
“Both parties have also agreed to allow the Joint Border Committee (JBC) to resume operation as quickly as possible for the survey and border defamation working group in accordance with existing agreements between two countries in order to achieve lasting peace along our border line,” he said.
Cambodia will continue to strengthen the role of the ASEAN Observer Team as the monitoring mission to be able to observe and verify and ensure the effective implementation of the ceasefire.
The third Special GBC’s Joint Statement agreed to 16 points, including the ceasefire where the usage of all types of weapons, attacks on civilians, civilian objects, infrastructures, and military objectives by either side, are prohibited.
It said both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments without further movement, including patrols toward the other sides’ position. “All arrangements under this Joint Statement are without prejudice to the border demarcation and international boundary between two counties, including resume JBC early survey and demarcation work,” they said.
Both sides agree to allow civilians residing in the affected border areas to return at the earliest, without obstructions and safe dignity, to their homes and normal livelihoods in areas within their own side.
They also agreed not to increase forces along the entire Cambodia-Thailand border, undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions or use any kind of force against civilians.
Timely progress on demining efforts at the border would be made, the agreement read. Parties said they would adhere to the action plan for cooperation on the prevention and suppression of transnational crimes, including cyber scam and human trafficking, and reaffirm the commitment to enhance cooperation aimed at preventing online scam.
At the displacement shelter, Reap Leut, 31, who fled with five people from Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, said she was very excited when she heard about the ceasefire starting today.
Leut, who left her hometown on December 8, said she hopes the ceasefire is effective so that people at the campsite are able to return to normal lives again and live peacefully after struggling so much. “Peace and stability are more precious than anything now.”
“When I heard there will be a ceasefire, I was over the moon as we could go home soon,” said Leut. “I heard bombings near our camp earlier this morning, but I hope that we can go back soon and not flee again.”
Another displaced person, Seuk Sareum, who fled from Oddar Meanchey province with her family members, said the head of the shelter announced that Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire which began this afternoon.
She is excited but the authorities told people at the campsite that they will only allow them to go back once it is completely safe. They were asked not to move anywhere yet and wait for more updates from the authority.
“Before the announcement of the ceasefire, I still heard bombs exploding near my campsite. So, I hope this ceasefire is effective as I don’t want to hear any more explosions; I want peace and we want to go home,” said Sareum.
(Additional reporting by Sovann Sreypich)
