Marcos: PH ready to help ease Thailand-Cambodia tensions

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia following deadly clashes along the disputed border that also resulted in the displacement of thousands of people.

“The Philippines views with concern the ongoing conflict between our two fellow ASEAN Member States and urges them to resolve the dispute in accordance with international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” Marcos said in a statement.

He said that ‘’the Philippines stands ready to assist in any way to restore peace.’’

More than 30 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in 13 years.

The Philippine Embassy in Cambodia advised Filipinos in areas near the Cambodia-Thailand border to avoid conflict areas. 

Thailand and Cambodia have expressed openness to a ceasefire agreement, which Malaysia, the current chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been advocating.

The two countries have bickered for decades over jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths.

Cambodia in June said it had asked the court to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has never recognized the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach. —with a report from Reuters/VBL, GMA Integrated News