August M
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia are part of a long-running and unresolved territorial dispute stretching back more than a century.
Their 817 km border, originally mapped in 1907 during French colonial rule in Cambodia, contains several areas where sovereignty remains unclear.
These pockets of contested land have repeatedly ignited military tensions despite decades of diplomatic efforts, Reuters notes
Skirmishes have erupted periodically, including a weeklong artillery exchange in 2011.
Tensions flared again this year after a Cambodian soldier was killed in May during a brief firefight, prompting accusations, military repositioning and increasingly hostile rhetoric on both sides.
Border Tensions Ignite Over Landmine Claims
A key accelerant has been landmines. Thailand has repeatedly accused Cambodian forces of laying new mines along disputed stretches of the border—allegations Phnom Penh denies.
Several Thai soldiers have been maimed since July, and expert analysis shared with Reuters suggested that some recovered mines were likely newly planted.
Thailand cited the latest landmine blast last month when it halted implementation of the October truce.
According to Reuters, these disputes have unfolded against a backdrop of rising militarisation, domestic political pressure on both governments, and long-standing mistrust
Although Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire earlier this year, the agreement has proved fragile.
Monday’s airstrikes show how quickly old grievances can re-ignite, especially when both sides believe the other has crossed a red line.
Sources.Reuters
