4:00 PM, August 22, 2025
Keynote Address by H.E. LTG. Maly Socheata, the Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson:
Good afternoon, fellow citizens and members of the foreign press. For this afternoon press briefing, I would like to provide the update regarding the outcome of the Extraordinary Meeting of the RBC, which was concluded at 11:15AM this morning. The press release on the outcome of the Extraordinary Meeting of the RBC reads as follows:
Outcomes of the Cambodia-Thailand Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meeting on 22 August 2025, Sa Kaeo Province, the Kingdom of Thailand
The Cambodia-Thailand Extraordinary Regional Border Committee (RBC) Meeting was held on 22 August 2025 in Sa Kaeo Province, the Kingdom of Thailand. The Cambodian delegation was led by Lieutenant General Ek Sam Aun, Commander of the 5th Military Region and Co-Chairman of the Extraordinary RBC Meeting. The Thai delegation was led by Lieutenant General Amarit Boonsuya, Commander of the 1st Army Area and Co-Chairman of the Extraordinary RBC Meeting. The Meeting aimed at fostering discussion and increase confidence to de-escalate tension, maintain peace along the border using all necessary mechanisms to resolve differences in the spirit of good neighbourliness, friendship, and solidarity.
Both sides committed to implementing the outcomes of the Special Meeting between Samdech Moha Borvor ThipadeiHun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and His Excellency Phumtham Wechayachai, Acting Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, held in Putrajaya on 28 July 2025, hosted by Malaysia and co-organized by the United States, with the active participation of the People’s Republic of China. They also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the outcomes of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting between Cambodia and Thailand, held in Kuala Lumpur on 7 August 2025.
In addition, the two sides agreed to maintain regular communications between all military regions and army areas and units along the Cambodia-Thailand border and strive to resolve all issues peacefully and avoid clashes. They underlined the importance of further intensifying the communication at all levels in order to build trust, and promote good neighbourliness. They also underscored the positive momentum and progress achieved through these engagements in advancing cooperation across all sectors, with the shared aim of returning to normalcy.
Both Cambodia and Thailand agreed in principle to establish a Coordinating Group (CG) to enhance communication at all levels, including between commanders, border liaison working groups, standing forces in the border areas, and operational units along the Cambodia-Thailand border, with the aim of resolving all issues peacefully and avoid clashes. They also considered the feasibility of establishing the Township Border Committee (TBC), which comprises of the state and private institutions, to strengthen cooperation in all sectors. The details will be discussed in the next RBC. In the interim, prior to the establishment of the CG and TBC, local task force commanders from both sides will meet weekly, or as appropriate, to resolve issues arising within their respective areas of responsibility.
Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate and collaborate with each other in combating and preventing transnational crimes, including call center operations (online scams), drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, and other cross-border criminal activities by exploring concrete and practical cooperation through existing frameworks. These issues, which fall under the mandate of the GBC, should be addressed at the upcoming GBC Meeting, which is scheduled to take place soon, as agreed by both sides.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of humanitarian demining and agreed to refer this issue, which falls under the mandate of the GBC, to the upcoming GBC Meeting, which is scheduled to take place soon, as agreed by both sides.
During the Meeting, both sides also discussed exploring practical measures to address the issues of barbed wire, tires, and other obstructions, with a view to alleviating the difficulties faced by local communities, facilitating the safe return of people to their homes, and mitigating the impacts on their livelihoods at the earliest possible time.
This Extraordinary RBC Meeting concluded with Cambodia and Thailand reaffirming their strong commitment to building on this positive momentum, further enhancing bilateral relations, and restoring normalcy along the border. The two sides also agreed to convene the next RBC Meeting within one month after this Extraordinary Meeting, or as appropriate, with Cambodia as the host.
