(Phnom Penh): Just days before the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement, which could officially end the Cambodia–Thailand conflict, Prime Minister Hun Manet made it clear that peace is never the product of luck or coincidence. It is the outcome of a smart, well-calculated strategy, implemented through patience and respect for international law.

In this context, the Prime Minister’s phrase — “We are quiet but not silent” — has become a defining symbol of wise leadership, guiding the nation away from the brink of renewed war despite persistent tension and provocation.

At a Time When the World Expected War:

At a time when the world feared that war could reignite at any moment — even after the July 28 ceasefire — Prime Minister Hun Manet showed that strong, rational thinking, wisdom, and inner strength could effectively de-escalate tensions and prevent the flames of war from returning.
As the Prime Minister explained, “Quiet but not silent” is not a passive silence devoid of power. Rather, it is a sign of discipline and composure, placing peace at the core of every decision and solution. It is a political philosophy that demonstrates peace can be achieved through intelligence and responsibility — not through weapons or anger.

Clarifying Doubts Through Action

In the three months since the July 28 ceasefire, Samdech Hun Manet’s statement at the inauguration of Techo International Airport on October 20, 2025, addressed and clarified questions from critics who misunderstood the government’s silence and patience as weakness:

“Problem solvers work 24 hours a day. They don’t just look at one place — they look everywhere. What’s happening in front? What’s happening here and there? What about the refugees? When students flee their homes because of the war, how do we help them? Many have lost their food production and livelihoods — how do we support them? We consider all these things. That is what it means to be quiet but not silent.”
This “quiet but not silent” approach has revealed the political and strategic capacity of a new generation of leadership, capable of preventing fragile situations from escalating into a second major war. Ultimately, it brought the conflict to the path of peaceful resolution through cooperation with the international community and neighboring countries.

The Prime Minister’s decision affirmed that patience under the “quiet but not silent” strategy is not weakness, but rather a sacred political weapon — a force that protects both peace and national sovereignty.

Two Strategic Pillars: The Keys to Ending the War:

With this new strategy, grounded in patience and rational diplomacy, the Prime Minister stated that Cambodia’s resolution of the conflict with Thailand rests on two fundamental approaches:

1. Preventing the war from spreading — containing conflict, reducing risks, restoring stability, and ensuring compliance with the ceasefire.
2. Resolving disputes through legal and diplomatic mechanisms — in accordance with international law and ASEAN’s long-established principles for peaceful conflict resolution.

“During these three months, ‘quiet but not silent’ has been applied everywhere. We aim to restore the situation, end the tension on both sides, and return to peaceful solutions under the principles we’ve always shared. I ask everyone to trust in our approach — to end the conflict, protect our people, defend our territory and forces, and resolve border issues through legal mechanisms and bilateral cooperation, not through the use of force, ” said the Prime Minister.

This strategy reflects a creative balance between political power and legal authority, transforming tension into opportunity — and confrontation into a peace agreement.

Peace Through International Cooperation:

The participation of the international community and Cambodia’s friendly neighbors has been vital to the success of the Royal Government’s “quiet but not silent” strategy.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed deep gratitude to:
• U.S. President Donald Trump, for initiating and promoting the ceasefire,
• Malaysian Prime Minister and rotating ASEAN Chair, for mediating peace, and
• The People’s Republic of China, for its active support in helping end the war.

He also extended special thanks to the UN Secretary-General, the President of France, and other world leaders who contributed to extinguishing the flames of war between Cambodia and Thailand.
This broad international participation clearly demonstrates that Cambodia is not isolated on the global stage, but a nation of friendship, credibility, and international respect.

The Prime Minister also thanked the ASEAN Interim Observer Team (IOT) for helping monitor and prevent renewed violence along the border. He added that in the near future, a new ASEAN Observation Team (AOT) will continue monitoring, coordinating, and supporting the restoration of stability and permanent peace.

Indeed, the systematic and voluntary participation of the international community has become an essential instrument in supporting Cambodia’s “quiet but not silent” strategy, which will culminate in the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement on October 26, 2025, witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement: A New Path for the Future:

The upcoming Cambodia–Thailand Peace Agreement, to be signed on October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, includes several key provisions expected to close the chapter of war between the two nations.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the main points include:

• Respect for the ceasefire and each nation’s sovereignty;
• Restoration of diplomatic relations;
• Cooperation to combat transnational crimes and online scams;
• Joint demining operations and the removal of heavy weapons from the border;
• Immediate release of the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers;
• A renewed commitment to coexist as permanent peaceful neighbors, resolving disputes through non-violent and lawful means.

These provisions are expected to serve as the foundation for lasting peace, opening a new chapter of friendship, stability, and prosperity between Cambodia and Thailand.

Conclusion: The Power of Patience and Wisdom:

Prime Minister Hun Manet’s patience is not a sign of weakness, but a reflection of strategic intelligence — the wise implementation of the “quiet but not silent” doctrine, proving that the power of wisdom and awareness can triumph over the power of arms.

Through this approach, Cambodia has moved from the fragility of war to the renewal of peace, guided by patience, respect for international law, and control of emotion. It is proof that even a small nation can prevail — not by relying on weapons, but by relying on intellect, determination, and national unity.

In the history of the 21st century, the “quiet but not silent” strategy of Prime Minister Hun Manet will be remembered as a sacred model of political intelligence — a powerful and moral path that prevented renewed conflict and proved that “the silence of wisdom can be stronger than the sound of weapons.”