Trump "ceasefire" announcement notwithstanding…Thailand and Cambodia 'armed clashes' continue

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Thailand and Cambodia, which clashed again recently after July, agreed once again to halt fighting through his mediation, but Thailand said it would continue military operations. Cambodia also urged a halt, saying Thailand is continuing to bomb using fighter jets.

On the 12th (local time), according to Reuters and others, President Trump said that Thailand and Cambodia agreed to halt fighting and return to the ceasefire agreement. On the social networking service (SNS) Truth Social, President Trump wrote, "I spoke this morning by phone with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet," and "the two countries agreed to stop all fighting and return to the original peace agreement starting tonight."

Thailand and Cambodia had signed a ceasefire agreement after armed clashes in July, but fighting has resumed along the border for six days recently, increasing the number of deaths in both countries. In Thailand, 9 soldiers and 3 civilians have been killed and more than 120 wounded, and in Cambodia 11 civilians have died and 74 were injured.

President Trump wrote, "The roadside bomb incident that initially caused many Thai military casualties was an accident, but Thailand nevertheless retaliated very strongly," and "now the two countries are ready to maintain peace and trade with the United States."

The roadside bomb incident mentioned by President Trump is interpreted as a mine explosion that occurred on the Thailand-Cambodia border. He added, "I am honored to have helped resolve a situation involving two great and prosperous nations that could have escalated into a large-scale war."

However, after speaking by phone with President Trump, Prime Minister Anutin told reporters, "It went well," but did not mention agreeing to stop fighting with Cambodia.

Anutin said he explained to President Trump, "'We are not the aggressors but retaliating,'" and emphasized, "'Don't simply declare a ceasefire; they (Cambodia) must show us (Thailand) first.'" A few hours later he wrote on Facebook, "We will continue military operations (against Cambodia) until we feel there is no further harm or threat to our land and people."

Prime Minister Hun Manet said he continues to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute and recommended that the United States and Malaysia use their intelligence-gathering capabilities to determine which side fired first in recent clashes. Cambodia's information ministry urged the Thai military to immediately cease military actions targeting civilian facilities.

Meanwhile, Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in sovereignty disputes for over 100 years over points along the 817㎞ border first surveyed in 1907 when France governed Cambodia as a colony, where the boundary has not been fixed.

Kim So-yeon, Hankyung.com reporter sue123@hankyung.com