Cebu, Philippines – The leaders of Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand will hold a meeting on Wednesday evening, May 7, on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, to address lingering tensions in mainland Southeast Asia.
The meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be followed by a joint statement.
The trilateral engagement is seen as significant amid the long-running tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over border and territorial disputes, particularly around the Preah Vihear temple area near their shared frontier.
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand resurfaced in mid-2025 over border-related issues. The border conflict has triggered periodic military clashes over the years, including deadly confrontations in 2008 and 2011 after the ancient Preah Vihear temple was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under Cambodia.
During the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025, both countries agreed to a ceasefire, although tensions reportedly flared again weeks later before another fragile truce was reached toward the end of the year, shortly before the Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairmanship.
The Philippines, as ASEAN chair this year, has repeatedly emphasized peaceful dispute resolution, regional unity, and stronger mechanisms for addressing security challenges within Southeast Asia.
Manila has also expressed readiness to support dialogue and communication efforts between Thailand and Cambodia as ASEAN seeks to prevent tensions from escalating further.
