The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute

[Gaybutton]

This may be escalating again. I just received the following message from my Thai friend - 8:05pm:

"Now I can still hear the sound of explosions."

[Jun]

I wonder which side has been leading the escalation ?

Obviously we saw the video of rockets being fired from Cambodia yesterday. Since not everything gets filmed, we don't know is if that was in response to anything from the Thai side.

If the difference in military hardware is anywhere near where I think it is, then the Cambodian leadership would be barking mad to escalate this.

For a start, if it goes any further, why wouldn't the Thais use their (presumed) total air superiority to take out every piece of heavy military equipment near the border ?

[Gaybutton]

Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes

July 26, 2025

UNITED NATIONS (UNITED STATES) - Cambodia wants an "immediate ceasefire" with Thailand, the country's envoy to the United Nations said Friday, after the neighbors traded deadly strikes for a second day, with Bangkok also signaling an openness to talks.

A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday.

"Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire -- unconditionally -- and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," said Phnom Penh's UN ambassador Chhea Keo following a closed meeting of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand.

A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian -- a 70-year-old man -- had been killed and five more wounded.

More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities -- 14 civilians and a soldier -- with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops.

Fighting resumed in three areas around 4 am on Friday (2100 GMT Thursday), the Thai army said, with Cambodian forces firing heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems, and Thai troops responding "with appropriate supporting fire."

Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told AFP that fighting had begun to ease off by Friday afternoon, however, adding that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.

"We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response," Nikorndej told AFP, speaking before the UN meeting had been held.

Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.

Earlier, acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had warned that if the situation escalated, "it could develop into war."

"For now, it remains limited to clashes," he told reporters in Bangkok.

- Ongoing dispute -

Both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket.

At the UN, Cambodia's envoy questioned Thailand's assertion that his country, which is smaller and less militarily developed than its neighbor, had initiated the conflict.

"(The Security Council) called for both parties to (show) maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well," said Chhea Keo.

None of the other attendees of the UNSC meeting spoke to reporters.

The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbors -- both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists -- over their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border.

Dozens of kilometers in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.

A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash.

- 'We are scared' -

Fighting on Thursday was focused on six locations, according to the Thai army, including around two ancient temples.

Ground troops backed up by tanks battled for control of territory, while Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand and the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border.

In the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border, AFP journalists saw families speeding away in vehicles with their children and belongings as gunfire erupted.

"I live very close to the border. We are scared," Pro Bak, 41, told AFP.

He was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple to seek refuge.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/30760 ... ly-clashes

[Gaybutton]

Cambodian leadership would be barking mad to escalate this.

And yet they have been firing into Thailand and laying land mines. Unless they are "barking mad" it ought to be obvious to them that a full scale military conflict would be a disaster for Cambodia.

Now, according to the article above, Cambodia is calling for a ceasefire. I hope that happens. I don't know how the dispute can be settled, but if nothing else, I hope the fighting stops and life can return to normal for civilians before anyone else is hurt or killed.

If this dispute ever manages to get settled, it needs to be handled peacefully, not through military action.

[Dodger]

Yep...as expected...this fracas will be over by months end.

I imagine the dispute over that parcel of temple land will go on for another few centuries.

We have friends and family members in SiSaket, Surin, and Buriram. All are safe and the chickens are being fed.

[Gaybutton]

Death toll in Thailand-Cambodia border clashes hits 32, over 130 injured

The death toll on both sides now stands at 32, as fears grow of a larger conflict breaking out between the neighbours.

July 26, 2025

Cambodian officials have reported another 12 people killed as a result of the ongoing border dispute with Thailand, with the death toll on both sides now standing at 32, as fears grow that the Southeast Asian neighbours may become engulfed in an extended conflict.

Cambodian Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata told reporters on Saturday that seven more civilians and five soldiers were confirmed dead. One other Cambodian man was earlier reported killed when Thai rockets hit the Buddhist pagoda he was hiding in on Thursday.

At least 50 Cambodian civilians and more than 20 soldiers have also been injured, the spokesperson said.

Thailand has reported 13 civilians – including children – as well as six soldiers killed over the past two days of fighting. An additional 29 Thai soldiers and 30 civilians have also been wounded in Cambodian attacks.

Cambodian newspaper The Khmer Times, quoting officials in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, said about 20,000 residents have so far been evacuated from the country’s northern border with Thailand.

More than 138,000 people have also been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, with about 300 evacuation centres opened, according to Thai officials. On Friday, Thailand declared martial law in eight districts along the border with Cambodia.

The decades-old conflict – centred around a contested section of the Thai-Cambodian border – re-erupted on Thursday after a landmine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers.

Tensions spilled over on Thursday with Thailand and Cambodia carrying out direct attacks on one another’s territory, with both sides accusing the other of opening fire first.

Thailand said the Cambodian military launched long-range rockets at civilian targets in the country, including a strike on a petrol station that killed at least six people.

The Thai military then scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia, including the reported strike on the Buddhist pagoda, which resulted in one civilian casualty.

Cambodia has accused Thailand of using a large number of cluster munitions – a controversial and widely condemned weapon – calling it a clear violation of international law.

Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand’s acting prime minister, said on Friday that Cambodia may be guilty of war crimes due to the deaths of civilians, as well as damage caused to a hospital.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting focused on the clashes behind closed doors late on Friday in New York, but did not issue an official public statement after the meeting.

The Associated Press news agency, citing an unnamed council diplomat, reported that all 15 UNSC members called on the parties to de-escalate fighting, show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/2 ... ns-wounded

[Gaybutton]

[Jun]

And yet they have been firing into Thailand and laying land mines.

Whilst it looks like Cambodia has been leading the escalation, we can't be 100% sure it's them.

There is clear evidence of them firing rockets into Thailand, purely because someone videoed it and posted it on You Tube or wherever. According to reports in the Cambodian press, they are trying to stop any more videos.
It seems fairly clear that Thailand has also fired into Cambodia, but due to the lack of video evidence, we don't know which order this happened in.

Cambodia claims the land mines are from the Khmer Rouge era. I doubt that, but cannot be certain.

Cambodia is also making various claims about Thai behaviour, such as claims regarding the use of cluster bombs.

And yet they have been firing into Thailand and laying land mines. Unless they are "barking mad" it ought to be obvious to them that a full scale military conflict would be a disaster for Cambodia.

I don't quite get that either.
This will hurt the Cambodian economy more than the Thai economy.
Thailand has total air superiority.
The Thai army has more troops than Cambodia & I guess they would be better equipped.

[Gaybutton]

The Thai army has more troops than Cambodia & I guess they would be better equipped.

The part on my "I Don't Get It" list is why Cambodia is persisting in this. They have to know they can't win militarily over Thailand, so that tells me there must be some other motivation. But what?

Meanwhile more than 130,000 families are now evacuated and displaced. Property and businesses have been destroyed. Peoples' livelihood has been destroyed. There have been military and civilian injuries and deaths on both sides. Two countries I thought were friendly with each other have now become enemies and that won't be going away any time soon no matter what the outcome.

What is all of this supposed to accomplish?

Instead of fighting each other, if they want to flex military muscle I think it would have made better sense to join forces and get rid of that goddam junta in Myanmar.

[Jun]

The part on my "I Don't Get It" list is why Cambodia is persisting in this. They have to know they can't win militarily over Thailand, so that tells me there must be some other motivation. But what?

Are you assuming Cambodia is the one making the first move with all the escalation ?

That might be correct, but reading the Thai and the Cambodian press gives quite different perspectives.
Also if we didn't have a video of that Cambodian rocket launch, but did have videos of the Thai air strikes or shelling, again perspectives might be different.

I also suspect Cambodia is more at fault, but can we be 100% sure based on the evidence ?

Also, there's more to be gained by the country that could win a war than the one that cannot.
Unless, Cambodia is expecting significant support from the obvious candidate. Which could shift the balance of power.