Thailand and Cambodia are both our friendly countries, and we do not want the conflict to escalate. My friend is still traveling in Thailand, and another friend is starting a factory in Cambodia. We hope the two countries will sit down and have serious talks.

Below, I will detail the reasons for the armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia so that netizens can understand:

According to Thai media, an armed conflict broke out along the Thailand-Cambodia border at midnight on July 24. In addition to border gunfire, the Thai military deployed F-16 fighter jets to conduct two air strikes on the headquarters of the 8th and 9th Infantry Divisions of the Cambodian forces. In response, the Cambodian side used the "Smerch" rocket system to retaliate against Thai military positions.

The reason for the resumption of border conflicts: This week's conflict between Thai and Cambodian troops near the Damun Thong and Ta Kheu temples is the latest outbreak of a century-old border dispute that can be traced back to the French colonial rule.

Conflict area: The disputed area is located in Surin Province of Thailand and Oudomxay Province of Cambodia, near the Dangrek Mountains. Damun Thong and Preah Vihear Temple are ancient Khmer temples, located exactly on or near the border.

Colonial legacy: In the early 20th century, France delineated the initial boundary, which was favorable to Cambodia. Thailand has disputed these boundary lines, especially in areas where the watershed boundaries and temple locations do not match.

Main points of contention:

Preah Vihear Temple: In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Cambodia, determining its sovereignty over the temple, but Thailand still disputes the surrounding land.

Damun Thong and Ta Kheu: Thailand insists that these temples are on its territory. Cambodia objects and has stationed troops nearby for years.

The core conflict stems from the long-standing dispute over the sovereignty of the border temple complex. The last similar-scale conflict occurred in 2011. Since May 2025, the tension along the border has been escalating continuously, eventually leading to a new round of firefights.

The immediate cause of this conflict is two recent events: A Thai military patrol unit triggered a mine, and the Thai side accused Cambodia of illegally laying mines, violating international law.

After the incident, the Cambodian ambassador in Bangkok was expelled, and the Thai diplomatic representative in Phnom Penh was also recalled. Currently, the diplomatic relations between the two countries have dropped to the lowest point in recent years.

Both sides accuse each other of instigating the armed conflict, and the responsibility for opening fire has not yet been clarified. However, the Thai authorities announced yesterday to close the border checkpoints and take other measures, clearly preparing for the escalation of the situation.

Historical experience shows that Thailand-Cambodia border conflicts have never escalated into full-scale wars, mainly manifesting as tense standoffs and short-term firefights. The elites of the two countries often use this to achieve political goals. How long this round of escalation will last remains to be observed.

Cambodia-Thailand Tensions Escalate

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838515868243015/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.