The Philippine government has called on Thailand and Cambodia to ease rising tensions after a deadly clash erupted along their disputed border on Thursday, July 24—the worst violence between the two Southeast Asian nations in more than a decade.
In a statement released Thursday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed hope that both ASEAN member states would address the issue through diplomatic means.
“We are hopeful our two fellow ASEAN member states will resolve this issue in accordance with international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” the DFA said.
The Philippines also clarified that it is not taking sides in the decades-long territorial dispute but stressed the urgency of dialogue and de-escalation.
“The Philippines does not take any position on this dispute but underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and ensuring the de-escalation of the situation,” it added.
The DFA confirmed that no Filipino nationals were harmed in the exchange of fire but assured that it is closely monitoring developments and is “ready to extend all possible assistance to Filipinos living in these two countries if necessary.”
Violence flared near a centuries-old temple at the contested border, where Thai fighter jets reportedly dropped bombs on Cambodian military positions. In response, Cambodian forces fired rockets into Thai territory. At least six civilians were killed when one of the rockets struck a petrol station. The crossfire has since forced around 40,000 residents to flee the area.
In response to the escalating situation, Philippine embassies in both Thailand and Cambodia have issued safety advisories, urging Filipinos to steer clear of areas near the border or those affected by ongoing military activity.
As accusations fly over who fired the first shots, the use of fighter jets marks a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict. Thailand has closed all land border crossings and called on its citizens to leave Cambodia, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, current chair of ASEAN, has also stepped in, calling for an immediate ceasefire and offering to mediate peace talks.
