4:00PM, August 8, 2025
Keynote Address by H.E. LTG. Maly Socheata, the Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson:
I would like to provide some updates following the entered into force of the ceasefire between the Cambodian and Thai Armed Forces on July 28, 2025, and after the extraordinary meeting of GBC was concluded on August 7, 2025. As the public, along with national and international journalists, areaware, the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) was successfully held on August 7, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The meeting was led by His Excellency General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia, accompanied by several high-ranking military delegates. Following the conclusion of the meeting, which achieved a satisfactory result in line with Cambodia’s objectives, His Excellency General Tea Seihaheld the press conference immediately after the meeting to share the key outcomes. In this regard, I would like to highlight several important points for your kind information.
The delegation of Cambodia attended the extraordinary GBC with two major goals. First, we are here for a detailed ceasefire agreement to stop bloodshed and the suffering by soldiers and civilians of both sides and uphold the purpose of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter, underlining peaceful resolution of disputes, mutual respect, the primacy of dialogue, and renunciation of the threat or use of force. Second, we are here for the establishment of a credible, impartial, and effective monitoring mechanism for the truth. These steps are life-saving measures and lay the groundwork for restoring confidence, trust, and normalcy between our two countries. Second, both sides agree to comply with international humanitarian law in the treatment of captured soldiers, including their living conditions, shelter, food, and medical care in case of injury. If one side wishes to bring in its own wounded soldiers or civilians who are not under the control of the other side for medical treatment, the receiving side may determine its response based on the capacity of its medical facility, including available equipment, personnel, or medical ethics, on a case-by-case basis.
Captured soldiers should be immediately released and repatriated after the cessation of active hostility in accordance with Article 118 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Rule 128A of the Customary International Humanitarian Law. Both sides agree to exchange information and facilitate the dignified and timely return of these individuals at an agreed location in full respect of humanitarian principles and jurisdictions without crossing the border. In this spirit, Cambodia hopes that Thailand will immediately release and return the 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, reflecting the growing appeal from partner countries and international organizations.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, together with the international community, will continue to call on Thailand to fulfil its obligations under international law. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring that none of our soldiers are ever left behind or forgotten. Cambodia remains firmly committed to respecting and implementing with determination and integrity its obligations as a responsible and law-abiding member of the international community to ensure the effective and full implementation of the ceasefire and the peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with international law and the ASEAN Charter.
