After the Azerbaijan and Armenia conflict, and a brief but intense India-Pakistan clash, another frozen conflict is heating up in Asia between Cambodia (a key Chinese ally) and Thailand (a US treaty partner), exchanging fire near the contested borders, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier.
This is the most serious exchange of fire on the contested border since the 2008 armed clashes that resulted in the deaths of 28 people. Now, Cambodia has decided to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over border disputes with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said.
“Cambodia hopes that the Thai side will agree with Cambodia to jointly bring these issues to the International Court of Justice… to prevent armed confrontation again over border uncertainty,” Hun Manet said during a meeting between MPs and senators.
Military clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours erupted in 2008 and have led to several years of sporadic violence.
The most recent occurred last week, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a location known as the Emerald Triangle — a joint border area between Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.
The day after, Cambodia’s foreign ministry sent a letter to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh demanding “an immediate and thorough investigation” into the “unprovoked attack”.
Describing the incident as “a violation of Cambodian sovereignty”, Phnom Penh said it remained committed to resolving the issue through “peaceful and diplomatic avenues”.
Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that even if the Thai side did not agree to bring the issue to the ICJ, Cambodia would still file the complaint.
He added that the border dispute was being “incited by small extremist groups in both countries”, which could lead to further clashes.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP. Cambodia’s military had said they were attacked first in last week’s incident, while the Thai side said their soldiers were responding to gunshots.
The Thai and Cambodian militaries met the following day and agreed to ease tensions. Thailand states that a Joint Boundary Committee will convene within the next two weeks to resolve the issue.
The Emerald Triangle is among the areas that will be named in the ICJ complaint, Hun Manet said.
Another is Ta Moan Thom Temple, the backdrop for a video posted on social media earlier this year showing a woman singing a patriotic Khmer song, which led to Bangkok lodging a formal protest to Phnom Penh.
Cambodia and Thailand have long been at odds over their more than 800-kilometre-long (500-mile) border, which was largely drawn during the French occupation of Indochina.
The 2008 military clashes erupted over a patch of land next to Preah Vihear Temple, a 900-year-old structure near their shared border. This led to several years of sporadic violence before the International Court of Justice ruled the disputed area belonged to Cambodia.
Interestingly, China’s robust backing of Cambodia and the U.S.’s longstanding support for Thailand could make the region another hotspot for US-China rivalry.
China’s support for Cambodia is marked by large-scale aid, prioritizing infrastructure and regime security, but raising concerns about debt dependency and Chinese military influence.
In contrast, U.S. support for Thailand is anchored in a formal alliance, with aid often tied to democratic principles, though tempered by pragmatic engagement with Thailand’s military-led government.
Cambodia leans heavily on China to counterbalance Vietnam and Thailand, while Thailand navigates a delicate balance, engaging both superpowers to maintain autonomy.
This dynamic fuels a broader U.S.-China competition in Southeast Asia. Cambodia’s alignment with China reinforces Beijing’s regional foothold, especially in the South China Sea, while the U.S.-Thailand partnership bolsters Washington’s endeavors to counter Chinese influence.
Thailand is the United States’ only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia, a treaty ally since 1954, and a major non-NATO ally since 2003.
The U.S.-Thai security relationship extends far beyond the transfer of defense articles and services. It is particularly supported by people-to-people ties through professional military education, military exercises, and regular troop engagements.
- By ET Newsdesk
- With Inputs from AFP
