CCTV News reported that on the morning of July 24 local time, Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire in the border area between the two countries.
According to previous reports, on July 23 local time, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Puntip issued a statement, lowering the diplomatic relations level with Cambodia, recalling the Thai ambassador to Cambodia, expelling the Cambodian ambassador from the country, and instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a protest letter.
On July 16 local time, three Thai soldiers were injured by landmines in the Thailand-Cambodia border area. Therefore, Thailand decided to downgrade the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on July 20, condemning Cambodia for suspected violations of the Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines and infringing upon Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and announced that it would take actions according to the convention.
In response, the Cambodian government decided on July 24 to lower the diplomatic relations with Thailand to the lowest level, i.e., the chargé d'affaires level. Cambodia announced that all diplomats and staff at its embassy in Thailand, except for essential personnel, would be recalled, and simultaneously required Thai diplomats to leave within a specified time.
On May 28 this year, Thai and Cambodian armies had briefly clashed in the disputed border area, with both sides exchanging fire for about 10 minutes, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier. Soon after the incident, a phone conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn and Cambodia's People's Party Chairman and former Prime Minister Hun Sen regarding the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute was leaked, causing a major uproar and leading to Paetongtarn being suspended by the Thai Constitutional Court.
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