A Cambodian home which was destroyed by Thai shelling when Thai forces attacked from Dece 7-27. 2025. - PPP
PHNOM PENH: Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol has called for calm and restraint to preserve a fragile ceasefire with Thailand amid ongoing border tensions, urging both governments to “lower the temperature” and resolve disputes through established bilateral mechanisms rather than force.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg in Phnom Penh, Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) reiterated that Cambodia remains committed to a peaceful resolution and warned that renewed conflict would undermine not only bilateral relations but also the credibility of Asean.
“The ceasefire is still fragile, but I want to reassure you that peace is essential to build our country — our respective countries — for the benefit of our citizens,” Sun told Bloomberg. “We are committed to resolving the conflict through peaceful means.”
Chanthol emphasised that Cambodia and Thailand have long-standing institutional mechanisms in place to manage border issues, including the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).
These platforms, he said, provide a formal channel for dialogue, confidence-building and technical discussions on boundary demarcation.
“Cambodia and Thailand will be neighbours for thousands of years,” he said. “So let’s work together to develop our economy for the benefit of our people and for the benefit of Asean. We cannot have conflict, or else we lose the credibility of Asean.”
His remarks come after Thailand released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war following recent clashes, a move Chanthol described as the “right decision” and one that complied with the ceasefire agreement reached by both sides.
He thanked the Thai government and the international community for supporting the release, saying it demonstrated that dialogue remains possible despite tensions.
“Since then, we continue to work together,” he said, adding that Cambodia has called on Thailand to reconvene and participate in boundary commission meetings.
“They’ve done that before, so it’s good to do it again,” he added.
He directly rejected Thailand’s assertion that its recent military action was aimed at dismantling scam centres, calling the argument unacceptable under international norms.
“You cannot use the issue of scams to invade a country,” Chanthol said.
“If scam centres are present in Cambodian territory, the government of Cambodia has the obligation and the sovereign right to resolve it ourselves. We don’t need a third country to come in to resolve scam centres in Cambodia,” he added.
He pointed to Cambodia’s recent law enforcement actions as evidence that Phnom Penh is addressing transnational crime independently.
Cambodian authorities arrested and deported Chen Zhi, described as a major figure linked to scam operations, to China after a period of investigation and evidence-gathering.
“It took us a while to investigate and collect all the information,” Chanthol said.
“When we had the evidence, we took action according to the law of the land,” he added.
Beyond the immediate border dispute, the interview also touched on broader regional and economic implications, including concerns over US tariffs and their potential impact on Cambodia’s economy.
While those issues remain under discussion, Chanthol stressed that stability and peace are prerequisites for economic resilience and regional cooperation.
He appealed to citizens on both sides of the border to avoid inflaming tensions and to allow diplomatic processes to run their course.
“To Cambodian and Thai citizens — let the governments work together to find a peaceful resolution,” Chanthol said. “Do not add fuel to the fire.”
According to Bloomberg, Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn said a US delegation is expected to arrive in Cambodia in the coming days as part of efforts to help reinforce a fragile ceasefire with Thailand.
Sokhonn said the talks will be led by a senior official from the US Department of State and reaffirmed that Phnom Penh will continue to cooperate closely with Washington.
At the same time, he noted that Thai military forces maintain a presence inside Cambodian territory and said the ongoing situation has forced more than 200,000 people from their homes. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
