The Cambodian government has accused Thailand of breaching the spirit and terms of the Joint Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, by linking the release of 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to additional political and territorial demands, including threats to seize Ta Krabei Temple by military force.
In an October 5 press statement, the government spokesperson unit said that despite Cambodia’s full implementation of the agreement — including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border beginning November 1 — Thailand has not complied, and instead “employed the points agreed upon in the Joint Declaration as conditions for the release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers captured under the captivity of the Thai military”.
The Cambodian side stressed that the Joint Declaration, witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his role as ASEAN chair, clearly calls for both sides to refrain from “provocative, harmful rhetoric” and to promote de-escalation and regional trust. Cambodia said Thailand has gone in the opposite direction.
According to the statement, Thai civilian and military officials have “continuously made remarks which are not in line with the spirit and terms” of the Kuala Lumpur agreement, adding that Thai officials are now demanding additional concessions that were not part of the declaration.
One example cited is the Ta Krabei Temple dispute, where Thailand allegedly threatened military action to take control of the site, a move Cambodia says would “escalate the tense situation and raise concerns over the loss of mutual trust”.
Thai defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit has reportedly said Thailand will not release the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers unless Cambodia hands back Ta Krabei Temple (known as Prasat Ta Kwai in Thai).
“The issue will not be resolved until Prasat Ta Kwai is returned to Thailand,” Nattaphon told a press conference.
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona explained that such actions directly contradict Point 4 of the Joint Declaration, which requires both sides to avoid accusations and inflammatory statements that may “mitigate negative public sentiment and foster an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue”.
“Another important point to note is that the Thai side has not complied with the spirit of the Joint Agreement.
“As of November 5, 2025, it has been ten days since the Joint Declaration was signed. Thailand has yet released the 18 Cambodian soldiers and this contradicts the spirit of the Joint Declaration, in which Thailand was expected to promptly release the soldiers, in accordance with the spirit of implementing the obligations of international humanitarian laws,” said Bona.
It has now been 10 days since the signing of the agreement or 100 days since the men were detained. The Cambodian government maintains that the delay is “inconsistent with the obligations of international humanitarian laws” and violates Point 5 of the Joint Declaration, which states that Thailand must “promptly release the prisoners of war as a demonstration of mutual confidence and trust”.
Cambodia reaffirmed that it continues to respect all agreed terms and urged Thailand to “strictly respect and implement all terms stipulated in the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration without engaging in provocative statements that could escalate tensions or undermine mutual trust”.
The statement concluded with a call for Thailand to act in good faith.
“It is very important that both parties firmly implement this Joint Declaration with sincerity and in good faith for the mutual benefit of both countries,” it said.
