On the day, the representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, Chocha, stated after a closed-door meeting with the Security Council that Cambodia demands peaceful resolution of the border military conflict with Thailand.
The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand began on July 24th, marking the largest scale of military confrontation between the two countries in over a decade. In recent days, the conflict zone has expanded, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of people. The acting Prime Minister of Thailand, Phatthaman, warned that if the situation escalates, it could escalate to war.
The Security Council convened an emergency meeting at the request of Cambodia. For a long time, Cambodia has preferred to resolve border disputes through international mediation, while Thailand has been more supportive of resolving issues through bilateral talks.
Earlier, Malaysia, the rotating chair of ASEAN, had contacted its member states, Cambodia and Thailand, attempting to de-escalate tensions. On behalf of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar, a ceasefire proposal was accepted by Cambodia. However, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry criticized Anwar’s proposal for not being genuine in terms of ceasing hostilities against Cambodia’s territory, placing civilians in danger and clearly lacking sincerity in ceasing hostilities.
This conflict also affected neighboring countries Laos. According to reports from the Lao military, fierce exchanges erupted near the border area between Laos and Cambodia, involving several illegally crossing Cambodian armed personnel. The exact location of the exchanges is currently unclear.
On July 24th, local time, a fire broke out at a gas station in Siem Reap, Thailand, following a rocket launch by Cambodia. This incident resulted in injuries to numerous students and civilians. Photo/Visual China
Early morning on July 24th, Cambodia and Thailand exchanged fire near Ta Kheng Tum Temple, a site known for disputed sovereignty along the border. Both sides accused each other of opening fire first, forcing them to retaliate defensively.
Subsequently, the conflict expanded within a single day to at least
locations, extending from Tammeng Monastery in the west to the border areas with Laos in the east, spanning approximately
kilometers. By the second day, the number of conflict sites had risen to include Thailand’s use of Soviet-designed rocket artillery, which hit several civilian facilities in Thailand, including a hospital in Suleimanpur and a gas station in Siem Reap. Thailand then deployed fighter jets and highly controversial cluster bombs to launch multiple rounds of strikes on military outposts along the border between the two countries.
It is noteworthy that this was Thailand’s first time using fighter jets in a border conflict with Cambodia. Analyst Anthony Davis from “Jane’s Defence Weekly” believes that Thailand possesses an absolute air superiority. According to a senior Thai officer quoted by “The Nikkei,” Thailand’s strategy aims to warn Cambodia that any further escalation will lead to harsher countermeasures.
Bangkok will become our target.
According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Cambodia lacks fighter jets, while Thailand has over 100 combat aircraft. Additionally, Thailand has more than 100,000 active-duty soldiers, three times more than Cambodia’s.
At the outbreak of the conflict, Prime Minister Prachatet was in suspension, with Deputy Prime Minister Pornchai taking over the role temporarily. Furthermore, since the cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, the position of Defense Minister has been vacant, currently filled by Deputy Minister Nhatpong.
Thierry Thongchai, a professor of international relations and senior researcher at the Institute for Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, noted that the Pheu Thai government has effectively devolved decision-making power over border issues to the military. He warned that allowing the military to dominate border policy is very risky, potentially leading to unchecked escalation of conflict without civilian oversight.
In the early hours of the day, according to reports from both countries’ defense ministries, this conflict resulted in 100 Thai soldiers killed. This marked the deadliest civilian casualty incident between the two nations.
During the years of border standoff, approximately 100 people were killed on both sides, most of whom were soldiers. The underlying cause of this conflict lies in the centuries-old disputes and ethnic grievances left over from the colonial era.
The Thai-Cambodian border stretches for over 300 kilometers, with the majority of it demarcated by the French during their colonial rule in Thailand in the 19th century. Due to the use of different scale maps by Thailand and Cambodia, there was overlap in their claims to territory. To this day, nearly 200 kilometers of the border remains unmarked, leading to ongoing conflicts between the two countries.
Phu Khao Sang, a temple located along the borderline that has been in existence for nearly a thousand years, has always been a focal point of dispute between the two nations. Cambodia tends to seek resolution through international law, while Thailand insists on bilateral negotiations. In 2018, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia, and in 2020, it reaffirmed this position, yet the control over the larger disputed area remained unclear.
In late May, Thai and Cambodian troops clashed near the border dispute zone, resulting in one Cambodian soldier’s death. Both sides have claimed responsibility for the provocation. Since then, tensions have not subsided: Thailand enforces border controls against Cambodia, while Cambodia prohibits imports of Thai fruits and vegetables and bans broadcasting Thai films and television programs.
In mid-to-late June, within just a week, two landmine explosions occurred on this uneasy border line, injuring several Thai soldiers. Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the Mine Ban Convention by planting new mines in the region. Cambodia denied the accusations of planting new mines, arguing that they were leftovers from past wars. Subsequently, both countries expelled their ambassadors, lowering diplomatic relations to the brink of complete breakdown, which completely ignited the conflict.
Historically, the conflict between the two nations often eases quickly. Prior to this, the most intense conflict between Thailand and Cambodia occurred in 1975, when the exchange of fire lasted for a week. This crisis eventually eased after Thailand’s general election in June. At that time, his brother’s government under Yingluck Shinawatra took office.
Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his successor, Heng Samrin, have a decades-long friendship. However, recent disputes between them could hinder efforts to ease tensions.
Last month, Cambodia disclosed recordings of a phone call between Phetbunthorn and Hun Sen discussing border issues. In the recording, Phetbunthorn referred to Hun Sen as “the leader” and expressed hope for assistance in easing the tensions at the border.
However, Phetbunthorn’s dismissive attitude towards the Thai military and his respectful tone towards Hun Sen were criticized by those who accused him of betraying national interests. Subsequently, Phetbunthorn was suspended by the Thai Constitutional Court and is currently awaiting a ruling on charges of violating ethical standards.
Border conflicts have often been catalysts for Thai political upheavals. Amidst political turmoil in Thailand, Hun Sen has repeatedly threatened to reveal more damaging information about Heng Samrin, further deepening the suspicions between the ruling party, the Thai People’s Power Party (TPP), and the Thai military.
Following the outbreak of the conflict, Heng Samrin and Hun Sen engaged in verbal sparring on social media. Heng Samrin stated that although multiple countries had proposed mediation, he hoped that “the Thai military would fulfill its duties first, teaching Hun Sen the consequences of deceitful behavior.” Hun Sen retorted that Heng Samrin’s comments further confirmed Thailand’s position as ASEAN’s chair country, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, had already spoken with both Hun Sen and Phetbunthorn, calling for an immediate ceasefire to create conditions for peaceful dialogue. However, restraining parties in conflict within ASEAN is no easy task.
In Cambodia, Hun Sen may hope to resolve the Thai-Cambodian land dispute completely, marking the end of his political career on a high note. Meanwhile, the shaky TPP government has been criticized for its slow response to border issues. To regain public support, they might adopt a more aggressive stance.
Moreover, both Cambodia and Thailand will face significant tariffs due to the ongoing conflict.
Analysis suggests that this dispute could precisely divert the attention of both countries’ domestic economies, and it is likely that leaders from both Cambodia and Thailand would not readily deescalate the standoff.
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