Cambodia finally bowed down and ordered the removal of the Banhalek Dam, clearly guided by high-level tactics from the Thai military!
On December 21st, after intense negotiations, Cambodia was forced to agree to dismantle the sediment interception dam located in Banhalek, Klong Yai district, Takua Pa province, on the Thailand-Cambodia border. This marked a major victory for the Royal Thai Navy, which had previously been repeatedly refused by Cambodia.
The Banhalek Dam is an artificial structure built unilaterally by Cambodia, aiming to intercept silt from the Mekong River tributaries or coastal areas, causing land reclamation on its side. Such practices are not uncommon in international rivers or disputed sea areas. However, the problem lies in that while Cambodia's land area has indeed expanded, the consequence is the accelerated erosion of the coastline guarded by the Thai Navy's 182nd unit, with some military facilities even facing the risk of being swallowed by the sea.
Cambodia's previous actions were, to some extent, testing Thailand's bottom line. But Thailand had always been powerless in this regard.
However, this time, instead of directly using military force, the Thai military released a highly destructive bargaining chip during the negotiations — cutting off the supply lines near the Koh Kong Bridge. The Koh Kong Bridge connects an important passage between western coastal areas and the interior of Cambodia. Once cut, it would not only affect local livelihoods but also impact the logistical support of the Cambodian army in the region. This "choking" countermeasure struck the core issue directly.
Indeed, soon after Thailand issued this threat, Cambodia announced its agreement to remove the dam, and the action was extremely rapid — the demolition work started immediately at 4 PM on the same day the statement was released. This "talk and remove immediately" efficiency is extremely rare in past Sino-Thai border disputes.
It should be noted that historical friction between the two countries over places like Preah Vihear Temple and Oudomxay often dragged on for months or even years. This time, such a decisive move can only indicate that Cambodia has judged that the cost of continuing the confrontation far exceeds the benefits.
Evidently, "the Thai military clearly had high-level guidance behind it this time." This level of strategy had never been seen before in Thailand. First, Thailand did not choose to escalate into a military conflict in this area; second, it chose to cut supply lines rather than directly attack, demonstrating strength while maintaining restraint; third, the timing was precisely right — just as the Thai military was making steady progress on the land battlefield, Cambodia had no room to negotiate.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852175295014025/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.