Why Philippines as Asean chair may leave Thai-Cambodian peace problem to US, China
Last Updated on January 5, 2026 8:43 pm
By Sam Beltran
The Philippines as Asean chair for 2026 will have to decide how much to intervene in the Thailand-Cambodia row. However, observers warn that the bar for the bloc in conflict-resolution “is not very high”.
Analysts expect flare-ups throughout the year between the Southeast Asian neighbours due to long-standing historical differences, despite attempts to establish a truce last year.
These include a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump in October in Malaysia, and a meeting on December 29, between Thai and Cambodian officials in China’s Yunnan, where they yet again agreed to rebuild mutual trust.
On Friday, Cambodia accused Thai forces of “annexing” a village along a disputed border area, marking no end in sight to a festering row that has displaced millions and led to more than 50 deaths.
Last year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, was heavily invested in brokering peace between the two countries.
Source : SCMP