Cambodia’s defence ministry yesterday confirmed that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to return their troops to previous border positions after a clash in which a Cambodian soldier was killed prompted both to reinforce their military presence.
The Cambodian statement, which said both sides wished to ease tensions following the incident in an undemarcated area on May 28, came after Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said both countries were in talks to defuse the situation and would revert to positions agreed in 2024.
For days, the two governments have exchanged statements, saying they were committed to finding a peaceful resolution.
Neither gave details about where or to what extent their military forces had been reinforced.
Thailand operates 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, spanning seven provinces along their shared 817km frontier, Thai government data shows.
Both countries have for more than a century contested sovereignty at undemarcated points along their shared border, which was mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.
Thailand’s Phumtham said both sides hoped the border issue could be fully resolved through bilateral talks, including a meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee on June 14.
Cambodia’s foreign ministry reiterated a request to bring the border disputes to the International Court of Justice in a letter to Thai officials on June 6.
The Thai government has said it does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction and proposed that all issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
Tensions between the countries escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011.
In the latest flare up, Thailand cut operating hours at 10 border crossings with Cambodia.
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