Thailand Rejects US and China Mediation, Warns Cambodia Conflict May Escalate Into Full-Scale War

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have reached a critical point, with Thai Prime Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan officially rejecting mediation offers from both the United States and China, warning that the ongoing border clashes “could escalate into a full-scale war.”

The situation along the disputed frontier — particularly near the Preah Vihear Temple and surrounding highlands — has rapidly deteriorated over the past week, with artillery exchanges, drone incursions, and ground skirmishes reported daily. Over 130,000 civilians from border provinces have been displaced, seeking refuge in temporary camps or crossing into safer interior areas of both countries.

Thailand Prime Minister's Statement

In a televised address from Government House in Bangkok this afternoon, PM Sudarat declared:

“Thailand will not accept external mediation at this stage. Our sovereignty is not negotiable, and we will respond with the full strength of our military if provoked further. We urge Cambodia to immediately cease its hostilities or face consequences.”

The Prime Minister's statement came just hours after diplomatic messages from both Washington and Beijing proposed urgent ceasefire negotiations and offered to mediate a de-escalation framework. Both proposals were dismissed by the Thai government, citing lack of neutrality and national security concerns.

Current Status of the Conflict

• Clashes have intensified along several sections of the border, particularly in the provinces of Sisaket (Thailand) and Preah Vihear (Cambodia).

• Thai Armed Forces have deployed additional battalions, artillery units, and combat UAVs to the frontier, with air patrols increased over contested areas.

• Cambodian forces are reportedly reinforcing key outposts and have also mobilized irregular militias in some sectors.

• Reports indicate drone reconnaissance flights, long-range rocket artillery, and heavy mortars being used by both sides in a series of tit-for-tat strikes since Monday.

While official casualty figures remain unclear, sources suggest at least 40 soldiers and dozens of civilians may have been killed or injured in the latest round of fighting.

UN Security Council Responds

With regional peace at risk, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for an emergency closed-door session tonight in New York to address the deteriorating situation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both sides to "exercise maximum restraint" and warned of "grave consequences for regional stability" if war breaks out.

International Reactions

• ASEAN, of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members, has expressed “deep concern” and is reportedly trying to organize an extraordinary ministerial summit.

• The United States has advised American citizens to avoid travel to both countries and has begun evacuating staff from its consulate in Chiang Mai.

• China, while calling for calm, has warned of “external forces” trying to exploit the crisis — a veiled reference to U.S. involvement.

The conflict stems from a decades-old territorial dispute over the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple. Though the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, the surrounding land remains contested, and minor clashes have occurred intermittently since 2008. The latest escalation appears to have been triggered by a border patrol incident earlier this month that left several soldiers dead on both sides.

With diplomatic efforts faltering and troop mobilizations intensifying, the region is bracing for further violence. The next 24 to 48 hours are considered critical. Unless urgent diplomatic pressure can halt the trajectory, Southeast Asia may be on the brink of its most serious interstate conflict in decades.