UPDATE 2 - 1 killed as border tensions persist between Cambodia, Thailand

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM MALAYSIAN PREMIER, REVISES LEDE

By Saadet Gokce and Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - One civilian was killed and three others were injured in a cross-border clash between Thailand and Cambodia on Wednesday, with both sides blaming each other, just days after Thailand suspended a peace pact.

In a statement, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry "condemned in strongest term the unprovoked shooting by Thai forces against Cambodian civilians in Prey Chan village, Banteay Meanchey province, in late afternoon of 12 November 2025, resulting in one civilian killed and three others injured."

This incident "represents a serious violation of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a grave breach of international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)," it said, adding that a formal protest was filed with Thailand.

Cambodia evacuated hundreds of residents from the Prey Chan village after the incident, a provincial spokesman Norng Vuthy told to reporters Thursday, according to CamboJA News.

The Royal Thai Army denied that Thai troops had engaged in "unprovoked shooting" and said Cambodian soldiers had "fired weapons into Thai territory"

Thai forces "took cover and returned fire toward the source using only necessary force in accordance with rules of engagement to suppress the incident, protect national sovereignty, and ensure personnel safety," the army said on the US social media platform Facebook.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday also said he would handle it "his way" whether to explain the move to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, noting that all four commitments are now suspended, according to Thai PBS.

He added that the Thai Foreign Ministry is preparing a letter of clarification to the Trump administration, which served as a witness to the peace pact signed in Kuala Lumpur.

The incident follows Bangkok’s Monday suspension of its peace pact with Phnom Penh after four Thai soldiers were wounded in a landmine explosion in the border province of Si Sa Ket.

The Southeast Asian nations signed the pact last month in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

On July 28, Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to an unconditional ceasefire at a trilateral meeting hosted by Anwar following weeks of hostilities.

Separately, China Thursday urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise restraint, engage in friendly dialogue, and resolve their differences through existing mechanisms, according to state-run Global Times.

“As a friend and close neighbor to both countries, China sincerely hopes that Thailand and Cambodia will exercise restraint, move toward each other, adhere to friendly consultations, leverage existing bilateral mechanisms, and find a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible to prevent the situation from escalating,” Lin Jian, spokesperson of Foreign Ministry told reporters in Beijing.

Lin added that Beijing will continue to play a constructive role to de-escalate tensions between the two neighbors.

On the latest developments, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on US social media company X that he discussed the peace efforts with his Cambodian and Thai counterparts via phone.

During his phone talks with Cambodia’s Hun Manet and Thailand’s Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday, Anwar stressed “Malaysia’s position that the friendship and ceasefire between both countries must be further strengthened.”

“May both nations continue to demonstrate the resolve and courage needed to restore stability along the border, for lasting peace in the region and the safety of their people,” Anwar added.

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to this story