Kuala Lumpur. Thai and Cambodian officials convened in Malaysia on Monday for their first round of General Border Committee (GBC) talks since a fragile ceasefire was brokered last week, following five days of deadly border clashes that killed dozens and displaced more than 260,000 people.

Originally scheduled to be held in Cambodia, the four-day talks were relocated to neutral ground in Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which helped mediate the recent halt in hostilities.

The July 28 ceasefire came in part due to economic pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned both nations that trade negotiations would be suspended if fighting continued. Following the truce, the United States reduced tariffs on goods from both countries from 36 percent to 19 percent on August 1.

Monday’s talks centered on finalizing measures to prevent renewed clashes. However, the agenda does not include the long-standing territorial dispute over land near the shared border.

Thailand and Cambodia have a long history of rivalry dating back to their imperial pasts. In modern times, tensions escalated following a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that awarded Cambodia sovereignty over the land surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear temple. Further skirmishes erupted in 2011, prompting a 2013 reaffirmation of the ICJ ruling, a decision that angered Thailand.

Tensions flared again in May this year when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead during a brief confrontation in a disputed area, triggering tit-for-tat diplomatic and trade sanctions. Last month, two Thai soldiers were injured by land mines in contested territory, incidents blamed on Cambodia, prompting both countries to downgrade diplomatic relations and exchange fire across the border.

This week’s meetings are also expected to finalize the scope and mandate of an ASEAN monitoring team, according to Malaysian Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Mohamad Nizam Jaffar. Despite isolated reports of violence after the ceasefire took effect, Nizam described the incidents as spillover skirmishes and said both sides had demonstrated strong commitment to maintaining the truce during Monday’s session.

The main session of the General Border Committee will be held Thursday, co-chaired by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seih. Observers from Malaysia, the United States, and China are expected to attend.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain. Both nations have organized separate tours of former conflict zones for foreign diplomats and media, seeking to highlight destruction allegedly caused by the other side. Each country continues to accuse the other of violating international humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians and the use of banned weaponry.

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