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NBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Why these two Asian neighbors just launched the world's latest armed conflict
At least 16 people have been killed in armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, as tensions over a century-old border dispute spiral into the worst fighting between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade. Since fighting began Thursday, the two sides have been progressively involving heavier weapons, including artillery and rocket systems, with clashes expanding to 12 locations from six. Both blame the other side for starting the conflict, which Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, warned Friday 'could escalate into a state of war.' At least 14 civilians and one member of the military have been killed on the Thai side, the Thai health ministry said Friday, and more than 130,000 Thai residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Cambodia reported one civilian death in the border area. Thailand has accused Cambodia of deliberately targeting civilians, while Cambodia accuses Thailand of using widely prohibited cluster munitions. On Thursday, Thailand, which has a far superior military, used a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet to carry out an airstrike on a Cambodian military target. The U.S., a longtime treaty ally of Thailand, has called for an 'immediate cessation' of attacks. 'We are particularly alarmed by reports of harm to innocent civilians,' the State Department said Thursday. A simmering conflict The conflict has its roots in the disputed 500-mile border drawn largely by France, Cambodia's colonial ruler until 1953. Cambodia and Thailand have fought several deadly skirmishes since the border was delineated in 1907, particularly in the area surrounding the ancient 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, which both sides claim as their own but was affirmed as Cambodian by the International Court of Justice in 1962 and again in 2013. Thailand rejects the court's jurisdiction. The temple's listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 prompted another flare-up. Tensions have been building again since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed after both sides opened fire in another contested area where the two meet with Laos, called the Emerald Triangle. Then on Wednesday, five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion along the border, which kicked off the latest clash. Cambodia denies placing landmines. A series of tit-for-tat moves followed, including both countries expelling each other's diplomats. 'The two sides are now at the point of almost no return,' Pou Sothirak, a former Cambodian ambassador to Japan and a Distinguished Senior Adviser to the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies in Phnom Penh, told NBC News. 'They've locked into this 'we're the victim and you're the aggressor' narrative,' he said. Political fallout The dispute has set off political turmoil in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended early this month after an extraordinary leak of her phone call with Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for almost four decades as effectively a one-party state before handing power to his son Hun Manet two years ago. The father still maintains his grip over Cambodian affairs, which apparently prompted the call by Paetongtarn, 38, whose father, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was known to be close to the 72-year-old Hun Sen. She has said she was trying to defuse the border dispute in the call, during which she referred to Hun Sen as 'uncle.' The conversation, recorded and released by Hun Sen himself, prompted outrage in Thailand, where there was already widespread dissatisfaction with her handling of the border dispute. Paetongtarn also blasted a Thai army commander during the call, angering an institution that has frequently intervened in the country's politics, experts said. 'We have a situation today in which the Thai military is making its own foreign policy against Cambodia. The Thai civilian government has no control over the army at all,' said Paul Wesley Chambers, a visiting fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. 'It's free for all and really out of control,' he said of the situation this week, adding that the conflict could topple Phumtham as Thailand's acting prime minister. Cambodia said it had urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene in Thailand's 'unprovoked and premeditated military aggression.' Thailand says it wants to resolve the conflict bilaterally, but only after Cambodia ceases its attacks. Neighboring China has offered mediation, but it is seen as closer to the government in Phnom Penh than Bangkok. Negotiating an end is going to be a challenge for both sides, Pou said, as the Thai military's effective self-governance has created a diplomatic hole between Thailand and Cambodia, which in the past has undermined the possibility of a permanent end to the border dispute. 'The Thai military preemptively pressures conflicts,' he said.
The Star
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Navigating tensions: Scholars call for peaceful resolution to Cambodia-Thailand border dispute
PHNOM PENH: The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has a long and complex history, but recent tensions were reignited by the tragic death of a Cambodian soldier on May 28. This incident has escalated a longstanding issue, drawing attention to the fragility of the relationship between the two nations. While the Preah Vihear Temple dispute once dominated the diplomatic landscape, the recent fatality has become a flashpoint, threatening to destabilise the region once again. At July 17 seminar, held at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, scholars, policymakers and experts gathered to discuss the future of Cambodia-Thailand relations and explore pathways toward peace and stability. The seminar, titled 'Cambodia-Thailand Relations: Towards Peace and a Stable Neighbourhood and Region', was jointly organised by the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Cambodia. Pou Sothirak, senior advisor at the CCRS and co-author of Preah Vihear: A Guide to the Thai-Cambodian Conflict and its Solutions, called for a return to the open and cooperative border policies that existed before the conflict. He stressed the importance of restoring trust and understanding between the two countries, with a focus on mutual respect, and urges both sides to avoid focusing on minor details or differences in resolving the conflict. 'Just re-open all border crossings and restore trust and understanding based on mutual respect. Refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and focus on ways to settle the dispute,' he said. 'Brush aside this fake news, this misinformation, this whatever you call… extreme statements from both sides,' he added. However, speaking is easier than doing. Sothirak warned that there are people who want Cambodia and Thailand to be split like this, to create misery, from both sides. He acknowledged that there are also external actors or individuals who benefit from seeing the two countries remain divided and in conflict. Sothirak suggested that some may seek to perpetuate tension between Cambodia and Thailand for their own agendas. Po Sovinda, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, highlighted the deep historical roots of the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border conflict. He stressed that understanding the past, particularly the colonial-era France-Siam Treaties of 1904 and 1907, is essential to grasping the current tensions between the two nations. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favour of Cambodia's sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple, but the surrounding area, approximately 4.6sq km, remained contested. 'Rising nationalism in both countries has exacerbated the situation, with historical claims being used to rally support domestically,' he explained. 'The location of current conflicts reflects the ongoing contention over territorial sovereignty, underscoring the complexity of resolving these disputes,' he continued. Sothirak reiterated that historical context is key to understanding the underlying causes of the conflict, which are further complicated by nationalism on both sides. 'The issue is not just territorial; it involves a lot of politics and emotions,' he added. He described it as 'deeply entangled with political factors, such as national sovereignty, governance and historical legacies, as well as emotional aspects, like nationalism, pride and the sensitive history between the two countries'. More than 100 scholars, policymakers and experts gathered to discuss the future of Cambodia-Thailand relations. Hong Raksmey Aun Chhengpor, policy researcher and programme manager at Future Forum, took the floor to discuss some of the recent developments surrounding the border dispute. The incident that triggered the latest round of tensions — a Cambodian soldier's death in a brief exchange of fire — was a stark reminder of the fragile nature of relations between the two countries. 'The death of a Cambodian soldier has done significant damage to the bilateral relationship, affecting trade and the livelihoods of people living along both borders,' Chhengpor remarked. He explained that the two countries have resorted to military build-ups along their shared border, creating a climate of suspicion and fear, which in turn has led to increased nationalism, with both sides prioritising their perceived sovereignty and national interests. Chhengpor also noted that Cambodia's growing confidence in handling the situation – partly due to its strengthened military and strategic partnerships, particularly with China – has made the current standoff different from previous incidents. Cambodia's decision to bring the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was also framed as a positive step, underlining the country's commitment to international law. However, he pointed out the challenges of international intervention, noting that Thailand has yet to accept the ICJ's jurisdiction. The situation remains delicate, with Chhengpor warning of the potential for prolonged tensions. 'The Thai government is facing a legitimacy crisis, and that complicates the decision-making process. The future of the dispute depends heavily on domestic political developments in Thailand,' he said. The 'Cambodia-Thailand Relations: Towards Peace and a Stable Neighbourhood and Region' seminar took place on July 17. Hong Raksmey Chhengpor also highlighted the crucial role of civil society, think tanks and the media in reducing tensions between the two countries. He called for a collective effort to minimise the inflammatory rhetoric and focus on de-escalating the situation. He pointed out that much of the negativity surrounding the conflict has been fuelled by misinformation and exaggerated narratives in the media. 'We need to stop the cycle of provoking one another,' he said. He also emphasised the responsibility of social media companies and big tech platforms in shaping public discourse. 'We must recognise that the media and social media play a significant role in escalating tensions. These platforms feed users content based on algorithms, which can lead to a more polarised public perception,' he explained. Both Chhengpor and Sothirak agreed that the immediate priority should be the removal of military forces from the border, which would allow for diplomatic solutions to take centre stage. 'The first step towards peace is ensuring that the military does not dominate the border, allowing space for diplomacy,' Sothirak said, urging both countries to engage in dialogue without the looming threat of military escalation. As the seminar concluded, it was clear that the path to lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand remains fraught with challenges. The speakers stressed the importance of mutual respect, transparent communication and a commitment to international law. However, they also cautioned that any solution would require patience, political will and a willingness to put historical grievances aside for the sake of regional stability. 'The situation is fragile, but there are positive signs,' Chhengpor noted. 'Both sides are still committed to peaceful resolution, and the channels of communication remain open. We must seize these opportunities and work together to ensure that the current tensions do not escalate into something more dangerous,' he added. Sothirak reflected on the period before the May 28 conflict, when Cambodia and Thailand enjoyed good bilateral relations. He shared personal anecdotes, such as how easy it was for him to travel between the two countries, indicating that their relations were previously open and mutually respectful. 'Bangkok Airways flew five times a day to Phnom Penh, seven times to Siem Reap. What more do you want? The relationship was that good,' said Sothirak. With patience on both sides, it may soon be that good again. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
