Post by : Meena Ariff

In the last week of July 2025, the sound of gunfire and artillery echoed along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. Tensions were rising quickly, and fear spread among nearby communities. More than 40 people lost their lives, and over 300,000 were forced to leave their homes.

However, within just five days, the situation was brought under control — thanks to quick and quiet efforts by ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN’s Quiet Role in Preventing a Bigger Crisis

ASEAN moved behind the scenes to calm the situation. On August 5, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn shared in an interview that while the group didn’t try to solve every political issue between Cambodia and Thailand, it played a key role in managing the conflict and preventing it from becoming worse.

“What ASEAN did was stop things from getting out of control and helped both sides return to the negotiation table,” Dr. Kao said.

He admitted that solving deeper political problems would take more time. Domestic politics in both countries, along with rising nationalism and fake news spreading on social media, made it hard for ASEAN to play a deeper role.

Still, the ceasefire was seen as a success, especially considering how fast it was reached.

Kuala Lumpur Ceasefire: A Quick Resolution

The ceasefire agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur on July 28. The talks were led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, since Malaysia is the current ASEAN chair for 2025.

Both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met face-to-face, ending the dangerous clashes. The peace talks were also supported by both the United States and China, showing how serious the situation had become.

Dr. Kao praised Prime Minister Anwar for acting fast and directly. “Malaysia’s quick move shows ASEAN still matters,” he said.

ASEAN’s Neutral Approach and Responsibility

As a Cambodian, Dr. Kao made it clear he did not take sides. “I am not Cambodia. I am ASEAN,” he said firmly. His job is to remain neutral and fair. Before taking office as Secretary-General in 2022, even Cambodian leaders had reminded him to serve ASEAN as a whole — not just his country.

He makes sure to be transparent with leaders from all member states, staying true to ASEAN’s values of trust and cooperation.

Online Nationalism: A Growing Problem

Even after the fighting stopped, trouble continued online. Social media in both Cambodia and Thailand saw users spreading false information, posting nationalistic memes, and blaming each other.

This made the job of peacekeeping harder.

Dr. Kao said the spread of such content was dangerous. Cambodian officials had to warn the public not to share provocative posts, saying that people would be held responsible for what they said online.

He called the situation a "wake-up call" for ASEAN. “We must treat each other as friends and family. Yes, there will be challenges, but we must work together to solve them.”

Monitoring and Humanitarian Support on the Way

To ensure the ceasefire holds, ASEAN is thinking of sending a peace-monitoring team to the area. Details are still being discussed. The plan is to create a team made up of volunteers from different ASEAN countries who can help watch over the situation.

Cambodia has also asked for help from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). This group usually responds to disasters like typhoons or earthquakes. But in the past, it has also helped in conflict zones — such as during Myanmar’s unrest in 2021 and the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017.

Now, the AHA Centre could help provide food, shelter, and support to families affected by the Cambodia-Thailand conflict.

ASEAN Welcomes Timor-Leste as 11th Member

Dr. Kao also spoke about exciting news for ASEAN’s future — the addition of Timor-Leste as the group’s 11th member.

The small Southeast Asian country of 1.4 million people applied to join ASEAN in 2011. In May this year, the leaders agreed in principle to let Timor-Leste join, and its membership is expected to be formalized at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October.

Dr. Kao said Timor-Leste is working very hard to prepare. Its government is updating its laws, training its officials, and attending many ASEAN meetings to learn how the organisation works. “They are very committed and progressing quickly,” he said.

South China Sea: A Code of Conduct Still in Progress

Another important topic for ASEAN is the long-awaited Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea. This set of rules is meant to avoid conflict in one of the world’s busiest and most disputed waterways.

Four ASEAN countries — the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam — have overlapping claims in the sea, along with China and Taiwan.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently urged ASEAN to move faster in adopting a legally binding code to protect maritime rights and prevent misjudgments at sea.

Though talks began back in 2002, the process has been slow. As of 2025, only a draft text had been discussed. Still, there’s new hope. Dr. Kao said leaders now aim to complete the COC by July 2026, during the Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN.

“There is strong agreement to finish it in time,” he said, adding that everyone would need to work hard and move quickly in the coming months.

ASEAN’s Strength: Unity, Trust, and Steady Progress

Dr. Kao closed his thoughts by saying that ASEAN’s power lies in how its members build trust, share ideas, and solve problems together.

He believes ASEAN doesn’t need to rush, but must keep moving forward with hope and unity. “I always believe in optimism,” he said with a smile. “If we keep working together, step by step, we will get there.”