Thailand-Cambodia 'War': 15 Killed, 120,000 Flee

“The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war,” acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said he had backed a ceasefire proposal put forward by his Malaysian counterpart and chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Anwar Ibrahim, but added that Thailand withdrew its backing of the plan after initially agreeing to it.

In a Facebook post, Hun Manet described Thailand’s decision as “regrettable”.

“The key to resolving the current armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is the genuine willingness of the Thai side to accept a ceasefire,” Hun Manet said.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said later that it agreed in principle with the Malaysian proposal for a ceasefire and will consider the plan, but that it must be based on “appropriate on-the-ground conditions”.

“It must be stated that throughout the day, Cambodian forces have continued their indiscriminate attacks on Thai territory,” the ministry said in a post on X. “Cambodia’s actions demonstrate a lack of good faith and continue to place civilians in danger.”

Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, said while Thailand insists it has the tools to resolve the issue bilaterally, it has not ruled out future mediation by regional partners.

“Our doors have always been open to talks. … We are still waiting for positive reactions from the Cambodian side,” Nikorndej said.

On possible third-party mediation, he added: “It’s a bit too premature for me right now to say that we are ready for any mediation, … but if we are going to talk about anyone to step in and help, countries in ASEAN … would be best suited.”

The United States, a longtime treaty ally of Thailand, has called for an immediate end to the hostilities.

China, a close ally of Cambodia, said it was deeply concerned about the conflict and hoped both countries “will properly solve their dispute through dialogue and consultation”.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing is ready to play a constructive role in helping de-escalate tensions.

“The root cause of this issue lies in the lingering consequences left by Western colonialists in the past, and it now needs to be faced calmly and handled properly,” he said during a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.