Thailand returned two Cambodian soldiers on Friday from a group of 20 detained during last week’s border clashes, as both countries prepare for critical ceasefire talks in Malaysia next week.
The decision comes after the most violent fighting between the neighbors in over a decade. The clashes, which included artillery fire and fighter jet sorties, killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 along the 817-kilometer border.
A truce was reached Monday following mediation efforts by Malaysia and phone calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, who tied the ceasefire to ongoing tariff negotiations with both countries. The White House later announced that U.S. tariffs on Thai and Cambodian goods would be reduced from 36% to 19%.
Soldiers Detained, Calls for Release
In Bangkok, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub confirmed the release of two soldiers and said the remaining 18 are being processed under immigration law.
“The Cambodian soldiers intruded on Thai territory and the army took them into custody, treating them based on humanitarian principles,” he told reporters.
The Cambodian defense ministry demanded the immediate release of all 20 soldiers. In a statement, it said Cambodia is “actively engaging in negotiations to secure their release” and urged Thailand to comply with international humanitarian law.
Ceasefire Talks in Neutral Venue
A critical border meeting between Thailand and Cambodia has been moved from Phnom Penh to neutral Malaysia at Thailand’s insistence—a clear sign of the deep-seated mistrust fueling their decades-long conflict.
It’s this very committee that is tasked with navigating the volatile border, particularly around several ancient temples. They handle the most sensitive, life-or-death issues: managing troop deployments, securing the frontier, and negotiating fragile ceasefires.
Things got really bad again this summer after a small skirmish in May left a Cambodian soldier dead, blowing up into a five-day battle in July.
So now, Malaysia is trying to mediate. “Defense attachés from other ASEAN countries will be invited, and crucially, so will representatives from the U.S. and China,” a government official said.
With the ceasefire still fragile, next week’s talks will test whether regional diplomacy can hold back a return to open conflict.
