Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting again?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/why-are-thailand-and-cambodia-fighting-again/

Posted by TheTelegraph

4 comments

  1. **The Telegraph writes**: Thailand and Cambodia have [resumed clashes](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/thailand-strike-cambodia-border-clashes-despite-trump-peace/) along their disputed border, with at least five deaths on Monday, in a flare-up that undermines a [ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/26/trump-oversees-signing-of-cambodia-and-thailand-peace-deal/) only six weeks ago.

    Both governments blame the other for the worst violence since July, [when at least 48 people were killed](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/28/thailand-cambodia-agree-full-unconditional-ceasefire/) and 300,000 forced from their homes.

    The stand-off is ostensibly caused by differing interpretations of a colonial-era map delineating their shared border. 

    The long-running confrontation stems from differing interpretations of a 1907 French colonial map defining the 508-mile border, including areas around important Khmer-era temples such as Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom.

    The ambiguity led to a 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling awarding Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, though Thailand continued to dispute adjacent land.

    **Read the full explainer at:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/why-are-thailand-and-cambodia-fighting-again/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/08/why-are-thailand-and-cambodia-fighting-again/)

  3. Both countries are trying to deflect from internal issues.

  4. >She was later ousted by the constitutional court, weakening her family’s political influence. Her removal helped clear the path for Anutin, aligned with Thailand’s conservative military establishment, to become prime minister. With elections expected early next year, analysts say his government is unlikely to show softness on territorial issues.

    “It’s important to understand that the underlying territorial contestation is very real, but the theatrical aspect is equally pronounced,” said Ms Sanglee. “And, for many, that latter aspect is getting increasingly difficult to ignore.”

    I would say by this point, it’s all about theatrics. Thailand’s military already got what they wanted when they ousted the former PM, and put their own guy into power. Meanwhile Cambodia has no mean to defend itself from Thai airforce, Thai aircraft already can get in and get out whenever they please, more fighting would only put even more pressure on Hun Sen and his son.

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