BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH – Tensions between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia have escalated sharply following reports of a military clash in a disputed border region. In a significant diplomatic rebuke, the Thai government has recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh for consultations and has ordered the immediate closure of several border crossings between the two Southeast Asian nations.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning in a historically contested area near the Preah Vihear temple, a flashpoint that has previously led to deadly military confrontations. According to initial, unconfirmed reports, the clash involved a brief but intense exchange of small arms and mortar fire between Thai and Cambodian army patrols. Details on casualties remain scarce, but officials have not ruled out the possibility of injuries on both sides.
In response to the skirmish, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a stern statement, calling the incident a "serious violation of our sovereignty" and demanding a clear explanation from the Cambodian government. The recall of the ambassador is a powerful diplomatic signal of Bangkok's deep displeasure and concern over the escalation.
"We have recalled our ambassador for urgent consultations on the latest developments," the Thai foreign ministry statement read. "We demand that Cambodia cease all hostile actions and exercise extreme restraint to prevent the situation from deteriorating further."
Adding to the diplomatic pressure, Thai authorities have sealed several border checkpoints, including key crossings responsible for significant daily trade and transit. The closure is expected to disrupt local economies and the movement of citizens on both sides of the border.
A History of Conflict
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a source of tension for over a century, but the conflict has been most acute around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. In 2011, the region was the site of intense fighting that claimed the lives of soldiers and civilians on both sides.
While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 awarded sovereignty of the temple itself to Cambodia, the ruling did not clearly demarcate the 4.6-square-kilometer area of surrounding land, leaving it as disputed territory. This ambiguity has fueled decades of nationalist sentiment and periodic military standoffs.
This latest clash shatters a period of relative calm and raises fears of a return to the open hostilities seen over a decade ago. Leaders in the region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which both countries are members, are expected to call for immediate de-escalation and a return to dialogue to resolve the dispute peacefully.
