Cambodia and Thailand have opened talks on reopening a number of border crossings, responding to a request from Japan aimed at securing the flow of essential goods and stabilizing supply chains.

Defence minister Tea Seiha said in a statement on the outcome of the General Border Committee, or GBC, that beyond discussing border openings, both governments also agreed to ease tensions by adjusting troop deployments and military equipment along the frontier.

Tea Seiha added that the two countries reached a principal agreement on terms of reference for creating an ASEAN Observer Team, awaiting only final approval from both governments. In the meantime, both sides recognized the continuing role of the Interim Observer Team and agreed to keep using it to monitor compliance with the ceasefire.

The fate of 18 Cambodian soldiers currently detained in Thailand was also raised. Cambodia pressed for their release under the Geneva Conventions.

The minister-level GBC session was held on September 10 in Koh Kong province, with Tea Seiha representing Cambodia and Thai deputy defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit leading the Thai delegation. Both sides agreed to hold another special GBC meeting within 30 days, this time hosted by Thailand.

Thai outlet Khaosod quoted Nattaphon as saying the meeting approved pulling heavy weapons out of the border zone to help restore normal conditions. He noted that any easing of border restrictions would apply only to cargo transport, not passenger crossings.

Nattaphon said the push to reopen came from Japan, which argued that the conflict was causing wider disruption to third countries.

On August 22, the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh highlighted Tokyo’s concerns following a regional mission by SUZUKI Hideo, Ambassador for Mekong Cooperation. The embassy urged full implementation of the ceasefire and steps to reduce tensions, saying stable ties between Cambodia and Thailand are vital for peace and development across the region.