The ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into an armed conflict early Thursday at a contested border area, with both sides blaming each other for initiating violence.
Escalating Tensions: Thai and Cambodian Troops Engage in Border Clash
Escalating Tensions: Thai and Cambodian Troops Engage in Border Clash
Recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia highlight deteriorating relations and rising military presence along their disputed border.
Troops from Thailand and Cambodia clashed early Thursday in a disputed border region, both sides accusing one another of firing the first shots. The confrontation occurred near the Khmer temple Ta Muen Thom, a site that has recently become a flashpoint for rising tensions. The Thai military reported that Cambodian forces opened fire, leading to injuries among at least two Thai soldiers. Conversely, Cambodia's defense ministry asserted that their troops acted in self-defense, claiming they were responding to initial gunfire from Thai soldiers.
In a move that signaled an escalation of military engagement, Cambodia had deployed heavily armed troops following a surveillance drone incursion in the area. Maly Socheata, a spokeswoman for Cambodia's defense ministry, stated that their forces were merely exercising their right to protect national sovereignty against what they described as aggression from Thailand. Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen noted on social media that regions within Cambodia had been targeted by shelling from Thai military forces, urging the populace to remain calm amidst the conflict.
Cambodia's current Prime Minister, Hun Manet, emphasized on social platforms the nation’s preference for peaceful resolutions but indicated a necessity to respond with armed force against perceived threats. In contrast, Thailand’s acting premier, Phumtham Wechayachai, acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation, urging measured approaches guided by international law.
This latest clash follows a significant downturn in diplomatic relations, with Thailand recalling its ambassador to Cambodia the previous day due to a landmine explosion that had injured a soldier near the border. Additionally, Bangkok announced plans to expel Cambodia's ambassador. Tensions have been compounded over the past months with both nations implementing reciprocal military build-ups and restrictions along the frontier, marking a low point in bilateral relations not seen in over a decade after earlier clashes resulted in casualties.
