Thailand’s military has accused Cambodia of violating a recently agreed ceasefire after detecting more than 250 drones entering Thai airspace, casting doubt on the stability of the truce reached following weeks of deadly border violence.
Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire on Saturday, December 27, aimed at ending renewed clashes along their shared border that reportedly left dozens dead and displaced over one million people this month. However, the Thai army said on Monday, December 29, that the agreement had already been breached.
In a statement, the military said it detected “over 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)” flying from Cambodian territory into Thailand on Sunday night, describing the incident as a provocation and a clear violation of the confidence-building measures outlined in the joint ceasefire agreement.
The accusation came as the foreign ministers of both countries concluded two days of talks in China, intended to restore trust and improve bilateral relations. The Thai army warned that the reported drone activity posed potential risks to both military personnel and civilians in border communities.
Army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said the drone flights demonstrated what he called Cambodia’s “continued provocative behaviour,” adding that Thailand might reconsider its decision to release 18 Cambodian soldiers captured earlier this year, depending on developments.
Under the ceasefire terms, both countries agreed to halt hostilities, suspend troop movements, cooperate on demining and cybercrime efforts, and facilitate the return of displaced civilians. Thailand also committed to releasing the detained Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours, provided the ceasefire remained intact.
Cambodia’s Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, played down the incident, describing it as a minor issue involving drone activity observed by both sides along the border. Speaking on state television, he said the matter had been discussed and that both countries agreed to investigate and resolve it promptly.
The latest dispute follows renewed fighting this month that spread across multiple border provinces, undermining an earlier truce. Five days of clashes in July had previously claimed dozens of lives before a ceasefire was brokered with the involvement of the United States, China and ASEAN chair Malaysia.
At the heart of the long-running conflict is an unresolved disagreement over the colonial-era demarcation of the roughly 800-kilometre border, where both nations lay claim to historic temple sites. While both governments have again pledged to stop fighting, officials admit that the boundary issue remains unresolved.
At the conclusion of talks in China’s Yunnan province, Cambodia, Thailand and China released a joint statement affirming their commitment to gradually restore normal relations, rebuild political trust and safeguard regional stability. Cambodia also said it had invited Thailand to another bilateral meeting in early January to continue discussions on border surveys and demarcation.
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