Opinion: Cambodia Honors Ceasefire with Transparency, While Thailand Must End Provocations
Opinion: Cambodia Honors Ceasefire with Transparency, While Thailand Must End Provocations
Cambodia has once again shown the international community that it is a nation of peace, responsibility, and the rule of law. In the wake of repeated Thai military provocations and incursions into Cambodian territory, Phnom Penh has responded not with escalation, but with discipline and transparency—demonstrating that true commitment to peace is proven by action, not rhetoric.
At the An Ses border checkpoint in Preah Vihear province—devastated after five days of Thai troop aggression—Cambodia invited the world to witness the reality on the ground. Military attachés and diplomats from 13 nations, including the United States, France, Japan, and China, personally observed Cambodia’s strict adherence to the ceasefire. They saw a border now firmly under Cambodian control, where Major General Chan Sopheaktra briefed them on the situation in the presence of Thai troops that had previously trespassed into Cambodian soil.
Cambodia’s openness is unprecedented. By allowing international military observers to inspect the area, our government has provided undeniable proof that our forces respect the ceasefire to the letter. Even after two recorded violations by Thai forces, Cambodia has exercised the utmost restraint, prioritizing peace over retaliation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, General Tea Seiha, reaffirmed this commitment by announcing that Cambodia will host the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting on 4 August 2025, a forum designed to advance dialogue and prevent further escalation. Cambodia will also continue to facilitate on-site inspections by foreign military observers, ensuring that every claim can be verified and every action scrutinized.
International confidence in Cambodia’s responsible approach is growing. Malaysia, as a committed ASEAN partner, has deployed two monitoring teams led by its military attachés to verify the ceasefire’s implementation. This decision was formalized during a high-level meeting between General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam Bin Haji Jaffar, Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia.
The message to the region is unmistakable: Cambodia seeks peace through transparency, cooperation, and accountability. We have taken every concrete step to protect the ceasefire—welcoming international scrutiny, engaging ASEAN partners, and demonstrating strict compliance.
Now, the burden of responsibility shifts to Thailand. The world is watching. Continued provocations—whether through troop incursions, misinformation campaigns, or manufactured narratives—threaten not only this ceasefire but also regional stability. It is time for Bangkok to match words with deeds: respect the ceasefire, end provocations, and engage in genuine cooperation to rebuild trust and friendship between our two nations.
Peace is not maintained by signatures on paper but by sincerity, discipline, and accountability. Cambodia has shown all three. The question is whether Thailand is prepared to do the same.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
Khmer Times
