Since December 7, a new round of border conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand has erupted, with firefights reported simultaneously in several Thai border provinces, including Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. Tensions have escalated rapidly, and the duration of the fighting has already far exceeded the round of conflicts in July this year. The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over the sovereignty of areas around the Preah Vihear Temple and others has a long history. But the 2025 confrontation stands out for its intensity and frequency. It has become one of the most severe armed conflicts between ASEAN member states since the end of the Cold War. This change is pushing regional security into a risk zone that cannot be ignored.
The impact of the conflict continues to emerge. Repeated exchanges of fire have caused civilian casualties and large-scale displacement, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted cross-border trade, while economic and fiscal pressures on both sides are mounting. Cambodia and Thailand are both highly dependent on tourism. The prolonged conflict directly affects livelihoods and deepens historical grievances, objectively increasing the difficulty of solving the problem. Moreover, spillover effects of the conflict are becoming more pronounced, and mutually beneficial sub-regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation have been affected. In a highly interconnected regional economic system, such security shocks can no longer be viewed as a purely bilateral matter.
Bringing the fighting to a halt as soon as possible serves the shared interests of both Cambodia and Thailand and is also the broader expectation of the region. Against this background, preventing further escalation and creating conditions for a political solution has become an urgent and practical task. China’s shuttle diplomacy and mediation efforts are precisely focused on this practical need. On December 18, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs again made a shuttle-diplomacy trip to Cambodia and Thailand, working to help both sides restore dialogue channels. Cambodia and Thailand have also briefed China separately on developments on the ground and expressed their willingness to de-escalate and cease fire. In such a situation marked by overlapping concerns and high sensitivity, few actors are trusted by both sides and willing to sustain mediation efforts. China’s mediation provided an important and stable impetus for de-escalating the situation.
This form of peaceful mediation, neither overstepping nor absent, represents a continuation of China’s long-standing constructive role in ASEAN affairs. More specifically, China’s approach to mediation has several distinct features. First, it adheres to an objective and impartial stance, respects the will of both countries, refrains from interfering in internal affairs, and avoids taking sides, exerting pressure or seeking self-interest, with the focus placed on encouraging the parties concerned to resume dialogue. Second, it respects and supports ASEAN’s centrality, working to bring relevant mediation efforts back into existing regional frameworks and coordinating with, rather than overstepping, the mediation undertaken by the ASEAN rotating chair. Third, it emphasizes process management, recognizing that peace cannot be achieved overnight. A ceasefire and de-escalation are only initial steps, while the more critical task lies in rebuilding political mutual trust through sustained communication, thereby laying the groundwork for long-term stability.
This low-profile and pragmatic mediation approach is not a stopgap measure, but rather reflects a realistic assessment of the complexity of the conflict. Although the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute originated from territorial issues, it is also compounded by lingering historical factors and multiple contemporary concerns. For this reason, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Cambodia and Thailand, China has consistently advocated resolving differences through peaceful means. It emphasizes the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, as well as the Asian security model of shared security, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and resolving issues through dialogue and consultation. China views both parties as joint contributors to regional security as well as shared beneficiaries of its outcomes.
At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the Cambodia-Thailand conflict is complex and highly sensitive, and that related differences are difficult to be fully resolved in the short term. External expectations for mediation should be placed on the realistic goal of preventing the situation from spiraling out of control and creating conditions for a political solution. Preserving space for dialogue between the parties involved through continued communication and de-escalation is itself an important step toward promoting peace.
From a regional perspective, ASEAN plays an important role in maintaining stability and promoting dialogue. Amid complex circumstances, there is broad expectation among relevant parties that existing regional frameworks can help steer the issue back onto a track of consultation. In the course of its mediation, China has consistently prioritized coordination with regional mechanisms and, while respecting regional autonomy, worked to promote communication and mutual understanding, thereby enhancing the inclusiveness and sustainability of these efforts.
De-escalating the Cambodia-Thailand conflict will be a gradual process. What matters most at present is to build mutual trust amid tensions and expand the space for dialogue amid sharp differences. As long as communication channels remain open and the momentum of de-escalation is sustained, the window for realizing peace will not be closed. This aligns with the shared aspirations of regional countries for stability and development.
