Bangkok, December 13, 2025 Thailand’s Defense Minister Gen. Natthapol Nakpanich on Saturday firmly stated that no ceasefire order has been issued to the armed forces, explaining that Thailand will not agree to any halt in operations until Cambodia “clearly ceases all hostile actions.”
The minister’s comments, made amid ongoing border clashes, come in direct response to public confusion over reports of a potential truce following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to “cease all shooting.”
Gen. Natthapol clarified during a public address that the government has not directed the military to stand down. “I confirm that there will be no ceasefire until Cambodia has clearly ceased all hostility towards Thailand,” he said, showing Bangkok’s position that any de-escalation must be preceded by verifiable steps from Phnom Penh, including the withdrawal of troops, heavy equipment, and removal of landmines.
The statement aligns with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s stance after his phone conversation with Trump, where he reportedly stressed that Thailand is acting in self-defense and that Cambodia bears responsibility for initiating and sustaining the aggression.
Clashes along the disputed 817-kilometer border have intensified since early December, marking the most severe fighting since a five-day conflict in July that claimed dozens of lives before a fragile truce was brokered with U.S. and Malaysian mediation. Renewed hostilities have involved artillery, rocket barrages, airstrikes, and drone attacks, resulting in military casualties on both sides, civilian injuries, and the evacuation of over half a million people.
Thai military sources report continued Cambodian reinforcements and shelling in multiple provinces, including Surin, Sisaket, and Trat, prompting proportionate responses to protect sovereignty. Cambodian officials, meanwhile, accuse Thailand of airstrikes and violations, claiming ongoing bombings even after Trump’s announcement. The Royal Thai Military, however, has repeatedly said there was never an agreement to a ceasefire and therefore the strikes are not a violation.
International calls for restraint have grown, with the United States, Malaysia, and others urging a return to the previous peace framework. However, Thai leaders maintain that lasting peace requires Cambodia to fully honor commitments and end provocations.
As fighting persists into its seventh day, both nations continue to trade accusations, with no independent verification of an effective ceasefire on the ground. Thailand has vowed to compile evidence of alleged Cambodian attacks on civilians for presentation to the global community. The photo in this article is from the Royal Thai Army showing alleged Cambodian rocket attacks on civilian areas that injured four villagers earlier today.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
