The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has intensified, claiming at least 14 lives, mostly civilians, and displacing over 100,000 people, according to Thai officials. The violence, centered around the contested Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear temple areas, erupted after a Cambodian soldier’s death in May 2025, triggering retaliatory strikes. Thailand conducted airstrikes on Cambodian military targets, while Cambodia allegedly fired rockets into Thai civilian areas, including a hospital and gas station, killing 11 Thai civilians and one soldier. Cambodia has not reported its casualties.
Both nations have sealed their shared border, with Thailand closing all checkpoints and Cambodia banning Thai imports, including food and media. Diplomatic relations have deteriorated, with Cambodia downgrading ties and requesting an urgent UN Security Council meeting, accusing Thailand of excessive force. Thailand insists on bilateral talks through the Joint Boundary Commission, rejecting the International Court of Justice’s involvement, which Cambodia supports.
Rooted in a century-old border dispute from French colonial maps, the conflict was further inflamed by a leaked June 2025 phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, leading to Paetongtarn’s suspension and heightened nationalist tensions. Around 40,000 Thai civilians have been evacuated, with schools in border provinces like Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram closed. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and China have called for de-escalation, with China offering mediation due to its economic ties with both nations. However, ASEAN’s non-interference policy and concerns over China’s influence complicate resolution efforts.
