Shots at the Border Echo History as Cambodia and Thailand Clash Again
Special Coverage
By Chandara Samban, in Kandal & Natamon Aumphin, in Bangkok
After a 14-year hiatus, armed clashes have erupted once again along the Cambodia–Thailand border. The fighting broke out on the morning of July 24, 2025, near the Ta Moan Thom Temple in the Dangrek Mountains, straddling Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey and Thailand’s Surin provinces. With negotiations stalling and no ceasefire reached, the conflict has since spread to other parts of the disputed border.
The flare-up follows a two-month standoff triggered by a fatal gunfight at Mom Tei on May 28, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. Tensions intensified in recent days after an explosion injured Thai soldiers, leading Bangkok to accuse Cambodia of placing new landmines in the disputed territory, a violation of the Ottawa Convention. The situation reached a diplomatic breaking point on July 23, when Thailand expelled Cambodia’s ambassador and recalled its own from Phnom Penh.
On the ground, the fighting has included the use of air strikes, artillery launchers, and what Cambodian officials allege to be cluster munitions—banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions due to their indiscriminate impact and long-lasting danger to civilians. Moreover, Reuters reported that the Thai military deployed F-16 fighter jets during the fighting, signalling a serious escalation in firepower. After four days of clashes, the death toll has risen to nearly 30, including civilians on both sides, with more than 200,000 residents evacuated from the border region.
The crisis has devolved into a political stalemate, with each country blaming the other for initiating hostilities and violating international law. On July 24, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense accused Thailand of provoking further violence by installing barbed wire and launching a coordinated military operation dubbed “Chakrabongse Bhuvanath,” with intense mobilization of troops in the provinces of Trat and Chanthaburi, both situated on the border between the two countries. Moreover, Cambodia’s spokesman Pen Bona accused Thailand of targeting civilian infrastructure such as pagodas, schools, and health centers, prompting Cambodia to file a complaint with the UN Security Council for violations of international humanitarian law.
On the other hand, Thailand insists it acted in self-defense after Cambodian troops fired artillery in civilian areas using a BM-21 system, an attack which led to the deaths of at least 12 civilians and damage to medical facilities. Moreover, Thai military sources, echoed in domestic media coverage, warn of potential further escalation if Cambodia deploys its PHL-03 long-range missile system. However, political confusion in Bangkok is complicating the situation: the interim Thai government led by Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has rebuffed international calls for de-escalation and declared martial law in Thai provinces bordering Cambodia.
The underlying roots of the conflict are as much historical as they are political. At the heart of the dispute lies long-standing tension over sovereignty and the interpretation of colonial-era maps, particularly concerning the areas surrounding the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. Cambodia, citing rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), insists on third-party mediation. Thailand prefers bilateral mechanisms, though experts argue these have repeatedly failed. Deth Sok Udom, a professor at Paragon International University in Phnom Penh, questioned the efficacy of bilateral mechanisms, arguing that if they had worked, the dispute would not have persisted for over 25 years, and urged both sides to accept third-party mediation and submit remaining disagreements to the ICJ for adjudication.
From a political point of view, analysts point to a breakdown in the once-close relationship between Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Shinawatra political dynasty in Thailand. A leaked phone call in June between Hun Sen and then Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sparked nationalist backlash in Thailand and contributed to her political downfall, fueling speculation that the tensions are being stoked for internal political advantage.
In this context, Thai public anger has been further inflamed by media coverage portraying Cambodia as the aggressor, triggering a wave of xenophobia and even racial violence against Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand. On the Cambodian side, the conflict has prompted widespread social media mobilization and overseas protests, particularly in Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand. Demonstrators have accused Thailand of aggression and called for an immediate halt to military action.
At Cambodia’s request, the UN Security Council held a closed-door session on July 25, urging both sides to return to diplomatic channels. During the session, Thailand’s Permanent Representative to the UN reiterated previous government statements, stating that the Cambodian side initiated the attacks first, targeting not only military but also civilian sites, among which were residential areas and hospitals, actions which constitute violations of international law, such as the Geneva Conventions.
The international community has also responded with growing concern. Despite mediation efforts by Malaysia—this year’s ASEAN chair—and other regional players, ceasefire talks have faltered. On July 24, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held separate calls with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister, resulting in what was initially described as a “verbal ceasefire.” However, Cambodia later quickly accused Thailand of failing to honor the agreement, and the fighting resumed on July 27.
U.S. President Donald Trump entered the fray with direct calls to both governments, warning that tariff negotiations would be postponed until a ceasefire is reached, but no concrete breakthrough has been achieved. While the fighting remains contained to the border region, fears are growing that the crisis could disrupt regional stability and ASEAN cohesion, potentially opening the door for external powers to assert influence in the region.
In this context, maintaining ASEAN solidarity is crucial, which is why both Indonesia and Malaysia showed willingness to help Thailand and Cambodia get back to the negotiation table. These efforts are all the more urgent as experts warn that without credible mediation, further escalation is likely. Thong Mengdavid of the China-ASEAN Studies Center suggested deploying international observers or ASEAN monitors to verify violations and restore trust, while also urging both nations to establish mechanisms to protect civilians and infrastructure.
So far, neither side shows signs of pulling back. Both militaries remain on high alert, and public sentiment in both countries appears hardened. While a path to a ceasefire remains uncertain, international pressure is mounting. What is clear, observers agree, is that regional diplomacy and legal arbitration offer the only viable long-term solutions. Whether Bangkok and Phnom Penh possess the political will to choose diplomacy over nationalism, however, remains to be seen.
