Cambodia military chief urges Singapore to sustain ASEAN border observer mission

PHNOM PENH, July 16, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s military chief has asked Singapore to continue supporting the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) monitoring the ceasefire along the Cambodia–Thailand border during talks with a senior Singaporean defence official, the RCAF said Thursday.

General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, met Brigadier General Frederick Choo, Deputy Secretary (Policy) at Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, during Choo’s official visit to Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The RCAF High Command said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation through personnel training, exchange visits, security information sharing, counter-terrorism and transnational crime efforts, and joint military exercises.

Brigadier General Choo noted Singapore will assume the rotating ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, hosting defence meetings including the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting, and chairing the ASEAN Observer Team.

Discussing the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, General Vong Pisen stressed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving the issue peacefully under international law and existing bilateral agreements, rejecting the use of force to alter recognised borders.

He thanked Singapore for its role in supporting the ceasefire and contributing officers to the observer mission, urging continued backing to ensure implementation and restore peace along the frontier.

According to the RCAF, Choo praised Cambodia’s restraint and its adherence to peaceful resolution. He said Singapore would remain active in the observer mission to support transparency, peace and regional stability.