SURIN, Thailand — Heavy fighting persisted along the Thai-Cambodian border on Saturday morning, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that both countries had agreed to a new ceasefire.
Thai officials denied agreeing to a ceasefire, while Cambodia has not directly responded to Trump’s claim. Its defense ministry reported Thai airstrikes early Saturday.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Trump’s comments did not “reflect an accurate understanding of the situation.” He criticized Trump for calling a land mine explosion that wounded Thai soldiers a “roadside accident,” describing it instead as a deliberate act of aggression. Sihasak added that Trump’s willingness to credit potentially distorted information offended Thailand, which prides itself as the oldest treaty ally of the United States in the region.
The current surge of violence began on December 7 after a skirmish that wounded two Thai soldiers, undermining a ceasefire brokered in July. That ceasefire, ending five days of fighting over long-standing territorial disputes, was promoted by Malaysia and pressured by Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless both sides agreed. The agreement was formalized in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump.
Over the past week, more than two dozen people on both sides have been killed, and more than 500,000 displaced. The Thai military confirmed 15 of its soldiers were killed and estimated 165 Cambodian military fatalities. Cambodia has not released official troop casualties but reported at least 11 civilian deaths and over 60 injuries.
Trump announced the ceasefire agreement Friday after speaking with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.”
Thai Prime Minister Anutin later clarified that Thailand would only maintain peace if Cambodia halted its attacks first. His foreign ministry explicitly disputed that a ceasefire had been reached. Cambodia’s Hun Manet thanked Trump and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for their efforts toward peace but made no mention of a ceasefire.
Malaysia and the United States have offered to help monitor a proposed ceasefire, with both countries’ leaders urging its implementation on Saturday night. Thai Prime Minister Anutin denied that Thailand was negotiating the proposal.
Meanwhile, fighting continued on the ground. Thailand conducted airstrikes on military targets, while Cambodia fired thousands of BM-21 rockets. These rockets, with a range of 30-40 kilometers, are imprecise and have mostly landed in evacuated areas. However, the Thai army reported that rockets hit a civilian area in Sisaket province, seriously injuring two civilians despite warning sirens.
Both sides reported naval involvement, with a Thai warship shelling Cambodia’s southwestern Koh Kong province. Each side claimed the other initiated the attack.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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