Cambodia, Thailand to hold talks on resuming Trump's truce as fighting enters third week

Thailand and Cambodia agreed Monday to hold a December 24 meeting of defense officials towards resuming a months-old ceasefire, as fierce border fighting between them entered a third week with at least 80 people killed so far

Thailand and Cambodia agreed Monday to hold a December 24 meeting of defense officials towards resuming a months-old ceasefire, as fierce border fighting between them entered a third week with at least 80 people killed so far.

The decision was taken on Monday during a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur of Southeast Asian foreign ministers, who were trying to salvage a truce first brokered by ASEAN chair Malaysia and President Donald Trump after a previous round of deadly clashes in July.

Thailand and Cambodia have engaged in daily exchanges of rockets and artillery along their 817-km (508-mile) land border following the collapse of the truce, with fighting at multiple points stretching from forested regions near Laos to the coastal provinces of the Gulf of Thailand.

The top diplomats of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps to halt fighting, while welcoming the planned meeting on Wednesday of the General Border Committee, a long-established mechanism for bilateral talks.

“The ASEAN foreign ministers expressed hope for de-escalation of hostilities as soon as possible,” said a statement from ASEAN chair Malaysia, adding discussions would include ceasefire implementation and verification.