The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute

[Gaybutton]

Cambodia breaks ceasefire, Thai soldier wounded

January 6, 2026

Cambodia broke the ceasefire on Tuesday morning, firing mortar rounds at the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani and wounding a Thai soldier, the 2nd Army said.

The incident occurred at 7.25am in Nam Yuen district, the announcement said. The mortar rounds were fired from the Cambodian side, landing in front of Hill 469.

One Thai soldier was injured by shrapnel and was being evacuated for medical treatment.

The injured soldier is Sgt Maj 1st Class Prachya Pilachai, leader of the 1st Rifle Platoon of Infantry Company 6021. He suffered a wounded to his right arm. His condition was "green", the announcement said, which is safe.

The army said it had reported the incident, which was now under investigation.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement in Chanthaburi province on Dec 27, and the truce took effect at noon on that day.

On Tuesday morning, the Cambodian government proposed a bilateral border committee meeting with Thai officials to be held this month in Cambodia's Siem Reap province. However, the Thai government responded that discussions regarding border surveying and demarcation may need to be delayed until after the general election set for Feb 8.

In July, the United States, China and Malaysia had brokered a truce to end the fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, but that ceasefire was also short-lived.

The long-standing conflict between the two countries originates from disputes over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border, with both sides laying claim to territorial areas and historic temple ruins.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... er-wounded
_________________________________________________________________

Mortar hits Hill 469 at Chong Bok, one Thai soldier injured; probe under way

by THE NATION

January 6, 2026

Second Army commander Lt Gen Weerayuth says an investigation is under way after a mortar round hit Hill 469 at Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani, injuring one soldier.

Second Army Area Commander Lt Gen Weerayuth Raksilp said on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) that an investigation is under way after a mortar round was fired into Hill 469 near Chong Bok in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani, at 7.25am.

The incident left one soldier injured, with shrapnel wounds to his right arm, Weerayuth said. He added that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

The Second Army Area later released the name of the injured soldier: Sergeant Major Pratchaya Pilachai, a platoon commander of the 1st Rifle Platoon, Company R.6021, who was hit by shrapnel from a mortar round and suffered an injury to his right arm.

He was immediately taken to a field hospital in the area. His condition was classified as a “green case”, and is not life-threatening.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40060814

[christianpfc]

This is how civilized countries deal with border disputes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War
The Whisky War, also known as the Liquor Wars,[1] was an amicable border dispute between the Kingdom of Denmark and Canada over Hans Island. Between 1973 and 2022, the island was under dispute between the two nations, although never amounting to direct conflict or violence.[2] Both countries agreed on a process in 2005 to resolve the issue,[3] which was finally settled in 2022, resulting in the creation of a land border on the island between the two states.[4]
...
In 1984, Canadian soldiers visited the island and planted a Canadian flag, also leaving a bottle of Canadian whisky.[10] The Danish Minister of Greenland Affairs came to the island himself later the same year with the Danish flag, a bottle of snaps, and a letter stating "Welcome to the Danish Island" (Velkommen til den danske ø).[11][12][13] The two countries proceeded to take turns planting their flags on the island and exchanging alcoholic beverages.[14]
...
The resolution had the side effect of giving Canada and Denmark a land border with each other, meaning that both countries no longer border only one other country (the United States and Germany, respectively).

[Gaybutton]

I hope this money will be used properly and none of it will end up as tea money - but . . .
___________________________________________________________

US to provide $45 million to help implement Cambodian-Thai accords

January 9. 2026

The United States ‍will ‍provide $45 million (1.4 billion baht) in assistance to Cambodia and Thailand, the senior US diplomat for East Asia said on Friday ‌during a visit to the region, ​to help solidify President Donald Trump's peace-making efforts between the two.

"The United States will continue to support the Cambodian and Thai governments as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity, ‌and stability for their people and the region," Michael DeSombre, the US assistant secretary for East Asia, said in a statement.

A senior State Department official said ‌DeSombre would meet senior Thai and Cambodian officials in Bangkok and Phnom Penh on Friday and Saturday to discuss implementation of the peace accords "and broader efforts to promote our shared interests in a ⁠safer, stronger and more prosperous Indo-Pacific."

DeSombre said the US, which has slashed its global foreign assistance programmes under Trump, would provide $15 million for border stabilisation to help communities recover and to support people displaced by the recent conflict, and $10 million for demining and clearing of unexploded ordnance.

The US would also provide $20 million for initiatives that will help Cambodia and Thailand combat scam operations and drug trafficking, and ‌other ‍programs, DeSombre said.

The Trump administration has made combating the so-called scam centres based in Southeast Asia a priority, as US citizens have been ‌targeted ​by their financial fraud operations.

Border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand flared up again last month after the collapse of a previous ceasefire deal brokered in July by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to end a previous round of conflict.

The Southeast Asian neighbours agreed on another ceasefire at the end of last ⁠year, halting 20 days of fighting that killed at least 101 ​people and displaced more than half a million on both sides. The more recent clashes included fighter-jet sorties, exchanges of rocket fire and artillery barrages.

Thailand is a long-time US ally, while the US has sought to improve relations with Cambodia to try ‍to woo it away from strategic rival China.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ai-accords

[KeithAmbrose]

Hopefully at least half of the money will get through to the right place, unlike Haiti. Now there's a place Trump could sort out!

[Gaybutton]

I guess this means no new Cambodian boys in the bars any time soon - except for the ones that manage to successfully sneak in.
_________________________________

No new Cambodian workers allowed in

by Apinya Wipatayotin

March 11, 2026

The government has reaffirmed that no new Cambodian migrant workers will be allowed into the country due to security concerns, despite pressure from the private sector.

Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong said the government understands the concerns raised by businesses over labour shortages. Ms Treenuch made her comments after a meeting with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking.

The private sector has urged the government to urgently address the shortage of foreign workers, especially those from Cambodia, warning that the problem could undermine the country's competitiveness. The employment of Cambodian workers became a contentious issue following last year's Thai-Cambodian border clashes.

Ms Treenuch said the Labour Ministry has reaffirmed five key principles for managing Cambodian workers now in Thailand.

First, the meeting served as a platform for the government to hear the private sector's concerns and recommendations on labour shortages.

Second, the government will not allow new Cambodian workers to enter the country. Instead, it will focus on managing workers already here with valid work permits.

Third, all Cambodian workers must be formally registered and have clear employer certification confirming their employment with a specific company.

Fourth, all measures implemented must not affect national security. The Labour Ministry will closely coordinate with security agencies when introducing any policies.

Fifth, the Department of Employment has been instructed to develop strict, clear measures to continuously monitor and regulate migrant workers.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... allowed-in

[Dodger]

.......the Labour Ministry has reaffirmed five key principles for managing Cambodian workers now in Thailand.

There's only one thing missing, and that's a solution to addressing the labor shortage.

Not a single word mentioned about the available labor force right over Thailand's northern border.

The head of the Labor Ministry should be replaced by someone who is part of the solution - not part of the problem.

[Gaybutton]

The head of the Labor Ministry should be replaced by someone who is part of the solution - not part of the problem.

Since when in Thailand does competency have anything to do with who gets the job . . . ?

According to the article security concerns are the reasons why Cambodians won't be allowed to enter Thailand to work.

What security concerns? The article says nothing about what those concerns actually are. I know of no incidents when minimum wage workers from Cambodia ever threatened security in any way. What makes this ministry think it would happen now? The border dispute? Do they actually believe Cambodian workers pose any kind of threat? What could they possibly threaten? Which do they think is of concern to these workers, the border or just trying to scratch out at least a minimal living?

[Jun]

There's only one thing missing, and that's a solution to addressing the labor shortage.

Raising that is fair, but I'd argue Thailand has a productivity problem, rather than a labour shortage.

From my limited interactions, the public sector is using backward processes and is overmanned. I read somewhere that the percentage of public spending wasted on admin is double what is normal.
Private businesses like banks are barely any better.
Instead of having one driver with a bus full of people, they have small songthaew or, even worse, motorcycle taxis
Many restaurants and coffee shops are overmanned
Then there is all the construction on oversized facilities that will never be used properly.
Also, serious overmanning in the police and army.

All contributing to a low gdp per capita, which is partly a measure of productivity.

As for Cambodia, well keeping many of the money boys there makes it far more attractive as a holiday destination. I enjoyed my trip there and if the situation is unchanged, I intend to spend longer there next time. It's like going back in time to before all the Cambodian money boys moved to Pattaya.

[Gaybutton]

Many restaurants and coffee shops are overmanned

And even so, some of them still give lousy service.

[Jun]

And even so, some of them still give lousy service.

I know of one coffee shop which has about 4-5 waiting staff, but the bottleneck is the owner who both mans the till and makes the coffee. He won't let the staff touch either.

Now, the service is good and there are probably good reasons for him keeping control of the money and the product.
However, he could probably remove 2 staff and keep the same service level.

Anyway, if Thailand put a bit more effort into productivity, they would not have the alleged labour shortage.