Thailand and Cambodia are witnessing an escalation in military hostilities as combat breaks out again across their disputed 817-kilometre land border. The sovereignty argument has erupted into the headlines once again. This conflict goes back to 1907 when France, then the colonial power in Cambodia, first mapped this disputed border. The recent violence follows a five-day war in July that left at least 48 people dead and displaced around 300,000 civilians.
The most recent clashes broke out in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand’s easternmost province. Cambodian forces fired BM-21 rockets at Thai civilian areas, according to the Thai military. The good news is that to date there are no reported civilian fatalities due to these rocket strikes. The incident was later blown out of proportion, leading to the killing of at least one Thai soldier and wounding four more.
Breakdown of Ceasefire Efforts
Responding to the renewed violence, Thailand’s military government took a hardline approach. They announced that they would freeze implementation of the ceasefire agreement that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former US President Donald Trump had negotiated months before. The ceasefire was intended to bring stability following the significant violence in July, but the recent conflict has rendered those efforts ineffective.
Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of making pre-emptive, morning assaults, first against Cambodian troops at two different sites. Their conduct belies decades of efforts to train Cambodian troops not to retaliate against such assaults. This latest deep freeze indictment only serves to further complicate an already tense scenario.
“The red line for responding has already been set. I urge commanders at all levels to educate all officers and soldiers accordingly,” – Hun Sen
Both sides are currently deep into frontline combat. The Thai military has publicly acknowledged that they have begun using air strikes to target rebel military bases in the three southernmost provinces. The infrastructure attack follows a broad and severe escalation in hostilities and increases the potential for additional civilian displacement and casualties.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
While the fighting escalates, a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Over than 385,000 civilians from four bordering districts in Thailand are currently being displaced because of the increasing violence. Over 35,000 people have already found shelter in temporary accommodations. This desperate state of affairs underscores the immediate need for humanitarian aid.
The international community is watching closely. They recall the painful loss of lives and mass exodus experienced during the clashes in July. Many others fear that if hostilities continue unabated, we’ll see a far greater scale humanitarian disaster follow in its wake.
International Diplomatic Efforts
In October, US President Trump witnessed the signing of an expanded peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to foster peace and stability in the region. The recent outbreak of violence reminds us just how thin these diplomatic threads are. Both countries remain deeply challenged in their efforts to discover a peaceful settlement to their differences.
As military operations continue and tensions escalate, both Thailand and Cambodia must navigate a complex landscape filled with historical grievances and contemporary geopolitical pressures. We express the hope of the international community that before more blood is shed, dialogue will take up again, restoring calm to a volatile region.
