Thailand, Cambodia Withdraw Troops, Commit to Peaceful Border Dialogue

Following a brief but deadly border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops in a disputed area near the Preah Vihear province and Ubon Ratchathani, both countries have committed to peaceful dialogue and troop withdrawal to de-escalate tensions. The confrontation, lasting about 10 minutes, resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier and arose from overlapping territorial claims and differing maps referenced by the two sides. High-level meetings between military chiefs General Pana Klaewplodthuk of Thailand and General Mao Sophan of Cambodia led to an agreement to pull back troops 200 meters each, creating a buffer zone to ease tensions. Both Prime Ministers, Hun Manet of Cambodia and Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand, reinforced their commitment to peaceful resolution and stability, though Cambodia has also deployed reinforcements to the border. Joint committees are planned to address border issues diplomatically in the coming weeks, with both sides urging restraint from media and social platforms to avoid inflaming the situation. Despite these efforts, Cambodia emphasized it would not retreat or disarm at the conflict points, highlighting the delicate balance between peace efforts and national security concerns.