(Phnom Penh): Throughout Cambodia’s history, the Khmer people have endured and overcome profound hardships—civil war, national division, genocide, family tragedy, and unjust economic sanctions imposed from abroad. Yet across every era, one truth has remained constant: the Khmer spirit does not surrender. We may stumble, but we do not abandon our path. We may choose silence as a strategic posture, but we are never silent when defending our sovereignty.

Today, under the “Quiet but Not Silent” strategy, tensions once seen along the border have been transformed into practical peacebuilding measures through the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement. This development marks the emergence of a new chapter in Cambodian history—an era in which peace is upheld not by rhetoric, but by responsibility.

So far, Cambodia and Thailand have been withdrawing heavy weapons step-by-step under the observation and verification of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
• Step 1 of Phase 1 was successfully completed on 1 November 2025.
• Step 2 is scheduled for implementation on 8 November 2025.

This progress provides clear evidence that the “Quiet but Not Silent” strategy is transforming the border—from a space once marked by confrontation—into a zone of dialogue and genuine cooperation.

*Three Core Pillars of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement

Signed under the witness of U.S. President Donald Trump and former ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim, the Agreement is built on three foundational commitments:
1. A genuine cessation of hostilities
2. Withdrawal of heavy weapons under AOT monitoring
3. Border demarcation in accordance with international law through the JBC

These measures are being implemented smoothly, transparently, and in accordance with the Joint Action Plan—demonstrating that peace at the border is not theoretical, but tangible.
However, one key obligation remains unfulfilled.

*The Unresolved Issue: Release of the 18 Cambodian Soldiers

Point 5 of the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Statement clearly states that Thailand will release the 18 Cambodian soldiers captured inside Cambodian territory after the 28 July ceasefire, “without delay.”
Yet more than ten days have passed, and the Thai side has not fulfilled this obligation.

Instead, Thailand has:
• Publicly announced a release date of 12 November through the Thai newspaper Khaosod,
• Then reversed itself, and
• Imposed new conditions—linking the soldiers’ release to the completion of Phase 1 heavy weapons withdrawal and ongoing demining operations.

This conduct contradicts the agreement and the spirit of peace.

According to the 31 October Special Meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC), heavy weapons withdrawal will take place in three phases over two months, from 1 November to 31 December 2025, under AOT verification. The RBC Joint Statement further warns that any concealment or misrepresentation of weapons will be considered a violation of the peace process.

*Thailand Is Using the 18 Cambodian Soldiers as Bargaining Leverage

Such behavior does not reflect the conduct of a state honoring an international agreement.

It reflects the use of human lives as political leverage—a practice inconsistent with mutual trust, state responsibility, and international credibility.

The release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers is:
• Not optional
• Not conditional
• Not negotiable

It is an international obligation.

Conclusion

Peace is not created by speeches or ceremonies. Peace is built through implementation, responsibility, and respect for agreements.
Cambodia has carried out the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement steadily, transparently, and in good faith—demonstrating the strategic strength of the “Quiet but Not Silent” approach.
Cambodia is today showing the world that the “quiet but not silent” strategy is not a slogan, but a strategy that can transform the battlefield into a dialogue zone and can transform the balance of power into international legal justice.

The Thai side must clearly understand that the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement is not a document for display in a museum or a historical collection. It is not an object to be used to compete for domestic political influence or to manipulate public sentiment.

This agreement is a genuine international obligation, with legal, diplomatic and political weight between sovereign states. Any state that has signed the agreement must fully respect, implement and support it without making excuses for delay. In this sense, an obligation is an obligation, not a tool for imposing conditions.

A state that respects an agreement is a state that has demonstrated its honor and civilized influence. The state that violates or attempts to delay implementation is the state that shows itself to be a non-party that can earn the respect of history and the international community.

Cambodia stands firm — Quiet, but never silent.