GBC secretariat talks set to open at 4pm in Chanthaburi

Secretariat panels of the Thailand–Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) will meet for their first day this afternoon in Chanthaburi province, in a bid to de-escalate fatal border tensions that have pushed bilateral relations to their lowest point in history.

The GBC meeting, co-chaired by the defence ministers of both countries, was agreed upon during a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur on December 22, following the recent tensions.

Phnom Penh initially requested that the meeting be held in Kuala Lumpur, citing safety concerns, but Bangkok insisted that it take place in Chanthaburi.

Thailand’s secretariat is led by Gen Natthapong Pruakaew, Deputy Chief of the Defence Forces.

The Thailand–Cambodia GBC Secretariat meetings will be held from today until Friday, followed by a full GBC meeting co-chaired by the two defence ministers.

Regarding the agenda of this round of GBC meetings, the Thai side will point out five actions by Cambodia that it says violate international norms:

1. The use of anti-personnel landmines (including possession, production, and deployment of new mines);

2. The use of historical sites as military positions;

3. The use of civilian communities as firing positions for heavy weapons, and the return to those communities after firing;

4. The use of civilian buildings as military positions or weapons storage facilities (including buildings linked to scammers or casinos being used for military purposes);

5. The use of civilians as human shields and as tools for making accusations when casualties occur.

If the Secretariat-level discussions fail to reach agreement on key technical frameworks—such as troop deployments and specific measures needed to ensure a ceasefire—the Thai side will not proceed with the full GBC meeting or sign any agreements on December 27.