Cambodia, Thailand set to end fire, build dialogue
Armed clashes erupted on the border between Thailand and Cambodia on December 7. According to the Cambodian Defense Ministry, Thailand launched attacks on Cambodian positions after days of provocations by the Thai military in border areas that set the stage for a new bout of confrontation.
Strikes and bombings of the past few weeks have resulted in 21 deaths and injuries to 83 civilians, the Cambodian newspaper wrote. More than 544,700 civilians were forced to flee their homes in border provinces.
In all, Thai strikes on Cambodian border areas have damaged or destroyed 111 civilian houses, five schools, three medical centers, a market, warehouses, several ancient temples and pagodas, one customs and excise office building, 11 office buildings, five hotels, several bridges, a gas station, and 28 cars.
The Royal Thai Army reported that Cambodian forces were the first to shell Thai positions in the border area, and the Thai Air Force responded by attacking Cambodian military infrastructure to take key areas under control and counter the enemy.
Thailand attacked Cambodia due to an escalation of a long-standing border dispute, particularly around ancient Khmer temples like Preah Vihear, where differing interpretations of French colonial maps cause friction, leading to deadly clashes over territory, nationalist pride, and recent incidents involving alleged Cambodian landmines and Thai crackdowns on cross-border crime/scam centers.
The core issue is the unclear demarcation of their shared border, stemming from a 1907 French colonial map that both nations interpret differently, creating contested zones. A major flashpoint is the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, located in a disputed area, which Cambodia successfully registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, sparking Thai protests and intermittent fighting.
Tensions flared recently when Thai soldiers were injured by newly laid Cambodian landmines, leading to Thai military action and accusations of truce violations. Both nations use the border conflict to project strength and rally nationalist support, with leaders exchanging harsh rhetoric.
Thai authorities have cracked down on scam centers in Cambodia, which some believe involves high-level Cambodian officials, adding another layer to the complex relationship. Fighting intensified in mid-to-late 2025, with both sides blaming the other for breaking ceasefires and escalating violence, resulting in casualties and displacement.
Thailand launched airstrikes and offensives to “reclaim sovereign territory,” while Cambodia accused Thailand of aggression, creating a volatile situation with humanitarian impacts.
The Cambodian and Thai authorities are now set to end the border conflict and build a constructive dialogue. They once again reaffirmed their commitment to peace and expressed hope for a sustainable ceasefire.Military operations should end as soon as possible, while dialogue to be resumed so that the border dispute can be resolved through peaceful means.
