Displaced residents in Thailand await their return home after ceasefire takes effect

Displaced residents in Thai border province of Surin expressed their urgent desire to go back to their homes after the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia took effect at midnight on Monday.

Since the armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over disputed border areas broke out on July 24, more than 30 people have been killed from both sides, and more than 100,000 people have been evacuated to safe areas, according to figures provided by the two countries.

In a temporary shelter in Mueang Surin district, Surin province, Ms. Ting, a university lecturer said that her life changed drastically on July 24.

"On that day, we didn't prepare anything on July 24 afternoon. I saw so many people move from the other districts like Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng. When I saw them, I feel sorry," Ting said.

As her husband is an army man, her family lives in a military camp in Surin. On July 26, they were ordered to relocate to a safer area, forcing her to separate from her husband.

"I think no one would like to get or face this situation that affects daily life. We would like peace and would like to spend a normal life, retired. I think everyone would like to stay with their family at home. No place is like home. I would like to stay with my husband, my son together to spend the daily life, the normal life as soon as possible. I hope everything will be better," Ting said.

Ms. Long, another resident from the border area, fled to the temporary shelter with her sick father after her village was hit by shelling. She now hopes to return home soon.

"We all hope the situation will stabilize so that we can take our families back home. No one wants to stay here. I want everything to return to normal. I hope calm can be restored soon. I want to go home and live harmoniously with my family like before," said the displaced resident.

According to Thailand's Ministry of Education, five students were killed and three others injured in the clashes. More than 900 schools across seven border provinces remain closed and will only reopen once the military confirms the areas are safe.

"I want the tensions to ease so our schools can reopen. I hope my family taking shelter here can return home safely," said Bank, a university student in Surin.

The two countries agreed on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on Monday afternoon, taking effect at midnight on Monday.

A special meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee is scheduled for August 4 to further stabilize the border and help residents return home.

Displaced residents in Thailand await their return home after ceasefire takes effect

Displaced residents in Thailand await their return home after ceasefire takes effect

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media