President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announces progress in Cambodia–Thailand talks facilitated by the Philippines as ASEAN Chair, with both sides reaching agreements to advance resolution of border issues. (Presidential Communications Office)
On the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened a trilateral meeting with the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, aiming to ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Anutin described his discussion with Hun Manet as “constructive and enriching”, stressing adherence to peaceful conflict resolution. He underlined the need to “turn a new page in relations” built on goodwill and “good neighbourliness”.
Hun Manet echoed a similar tone, saying discussions focused on escalation control and trust‑building measures to restore a framework for lasting peace and normalised relations. Both leaders agreed to assign their Foreign Ministers to collaborate on reviewing the confidence-building measures (CBMs), incremental steps taken by conflicting parties to reduce tensions, prevent escalation and lay the groundwork for a durable peace.
The meeting also resulted in an agreement by both Cambodia and Thailand to utilise the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), as well as the bilateral agreements such as the General Border Committee (GBC), Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Regional Border Committee (RBC) as peacekeeping and verification mechanisms.
At the Joint Press Conference following the trilateral meeting, Marcos Jr. stated: “The Philippines commits to continue offering its good offices to enable both countries to engage in sustained dialogue and cooperation.” Both Prime Ministers expressed their deepest appreciation for his initiative, commending Manila’s chairmanship in promoting regional peace, stability, and unity.
The talks took place against a fraught legal backdrop, following Thailand’s unilateral termination of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 44), the Overlapping Maritime Claims Area (OCA). Eat Sophea, Cambodia’s Acting Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, voiced Phnom Penh’s disappointment, confirmed the country’s decision to pursue compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS and reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful resolution of boundary disputes in line with international law.
The bloody conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, particularly, has claimed 100 lives and forced 500,000 people to flee their homes into shelters. The Philippines–Cambodia–Thailand Trilateral Meeting underscored ASEAN’s collective commitment to peace, regional stability and cooperation, with Manila’s leadership earning recognition from both neighbours.
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