Fighter jets, landmines, and diplomatic expulsions marked the sharpest escalation in years over a dispute that stretches back over a century and at the centre of it lies the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu temple. The long-simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared into deadly violence once again on Thursday, as both nations exchanged fire along their contested border. At least nine civilians were killed,
Several Thai civilians were killed in Si Sa Ket province when explosions rang out near a gas station, while at least 14 others were injured across three border provinces. Thai jets responded with airstrikes on Cambodian positions near the temple. Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of bombing roads near Preah Vihear. Clashes continue in at least six areas along the border.
The incident follows weeks of rising tensions after a Cambodian soldier was killed in May, and two Thai soldiers lost limbs in separate landmine blasts in July. As diplomatic ties crumbled, both nations expelled each other’s ambassadors and recalled their envoys, blaming each other for unprovoked aggression and breaches of sovereignty.
Preah Vihear: Sacred ground and political faultline
The 11th century Preah Vihear temple , perched atop the Dangrek mountain range, is more than a stunning monument of Khmer architecture — it is a longstanding symbol of national pride and dispute.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple lies within Cambodian territory, citing a 1907 French-drawn map based on an agreement to follow the watershed line. Thailand contested the map’s validity, claiming it had not accepted the delineation knowingly. Nonetheless, the ICJ concluded that Thailand had implicitly accepted the map and ordered it to withdraw its forces and return any artefacts taken from the temple since 1954.
However, Thailand has maintained that the land surrounding the temple — especially a 4.6 square kilometre patch — remains unresolved. Tensions escalated again in 2008 after Cambodia succeeded in registering Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Thai nationalists objected, and skirmishes broke out, culminating in a deadly exchange in 2011 that killed at least 15 people. The ICJ reaffirmed its ruling in 2013, this time declaring that the surrounding land was also Cambodian — a decision that still stings in Bangkok.
A dispute rooted in empire, colonialism and nationalist pride
Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the Khmer empire’s influence stretched across much of present-day Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. As Angkor’s power declined, the Thai and Vietnamese kingdoms vied for control of Cambodia, frequently invading and shifting the boundary deep into Khmer heartlands.
French colonisation of Cambodia in the late 19th century changed the regional balance. Through a series of coercive treaties, France forced Thailand (then Siam) to cede territories it had held for generations. The most significant of these was the 1907 treaty which returned the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap to Cambodian control and introduced the controversial French drawn border map — the origin of the current Preah Vihear dispute.
The map's vagueness, drawn along a watershed line that wasn't clearly understood, has allowed for competing claims. While Cambodia insists the ICJ has ruled definitively in its favour, Thailand argues that parts of the border, particularly around ancient temples like Ta Muen Thom and Ta Moan Thom, remain under negotiation. A Joint Border Commission was set up in 2000, but little progress has been made.
Nationalism, diplomacy and the risks of modern-day conflict
Beyond the historical grievances, presentday politics have inflamed tensions. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, already under pressure at home, was suspended from office in July after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen. In the call, she referred to the Thai military as “the opposite side” and called Hun Sen “uncle,” sparking outrage from Thai lawmakers who accused her of undermining national sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet — son of Hun Sen — responded to the latest violence by declaring that while Cambodia seeks peaceful resolution, it “has no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression.”
Both countries have moved troops to the border and issued warnings of further escalation. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has warned Cambodia to stop attacking civilian and military targets or face “intensified self-defense measures.” Cambodia insists it acted only in response to drone incursions and unprovoked attacks.
Military rhetoric has grown louder. Thai officials have warned they are prepared for a “high-level operation” if their sovereignty is threatened. Cambodia has stopped imports of Thai fruit, banned Thai media, and evacuated its diplomatic staff.
Even minor provocations have had outsized consequences. In February, Cambodian civilians, escorted by troops, sang their national anthem at the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, prompting Thai soldiers to intervene. Earlier, conservative voices in Thailand warned that joint energy exploration with Cambodia could risk ceding territory — specifically, the island of Koh Kood.
The path ahead: More talks or more clashes?
Despite the rising tension, both countries have occasionally reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue. After the May 28 clash, Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to meet through their Joint Border Commission. But even as diplomatic statements pledge restraint, soldiers remain mobilised near the border.
The Preah Vihear temple continues to symbolise more than just ancient heritage — it embodies centuries of shifting borders, colonial legacy, and wounded national pride, and finds itself at the centre of a centuries old conflict.
(With inputs from agencies)
Several Thai civilians were killed in Si Sa Ket province when explosions rang out near a gas station, while at least 14 others were injured across three border provinces. Thai jets responded with airstrikes on Cambodian positions near the temple. Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of bombing roads near Preah Vihear. Clashes continue in at least six areas along the border.
The incident follows weeks of rising tensions after a Cambodian soldier was killed in May, and two Thai soldiers lost limbs in separate landmine blasts in July. As diplomatic ties crumbled, both nations expelled each other’s ambassadors and recalled their envoys, blaming each other for unprovoked aggression and breaches of sovereignty.
Preah Vihear: Sacred ground and political faultline
The 11th century Preah Vihear temple , perched atop the Dangrek mountain range, is more than a stunning monument of Khmer architecture — it is a longstanding symbol of national pride and dispute.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple lies within Cambodian territory, citing a 1907 French-drawn map based on an agreement to follow the watershed line. Thailand contested the map’s validity, claiming it had not accepted the delineation knowingly. Nonetheless, the ICJ concluded that Thailand had implicitly accepted the map and ordered it to withdraw its forces and return any artefacts taken from the temple since 1954.
However, Thailand has maintained that the land surrounding the temple — especially a 4.6 square kilometre patch — remains unresolved. Tensions escalated again in 2008 after Cambodia succeeded in registering Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Thai nationalists objected, and skirmishes broke out, culminating in a deadly exchange in 2011 that killed at least 15 people. The ICJ reaffirmed its ruling in 2013, this time declaring that the surrounding land was also Cambodian — a decision that still stings in Bangkok.
A dispute rooted in empire, colonialism and nationalist pride
Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the Khmer empire’s influence stretched across much of present-day Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. As Angkor’s power declined, the Thai and Vietnamese kingdoms vied for control of Cambodia, frequently invading and shifting the boundary deep into Khmer heartlands.
French colonisation of Cambodia in the late 19th century changed the regional balance. Through a series of coercive treaties, France forced Thailand (then Siam) to cede territories it had held for generations. The most significant of these was the 1907 treaty which returned the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap to Cambodian control and introduced the controversial French drawn border map — the origin of the current Preah Vihear dispute.
The map's vagueness, drawn along a watershed line that wasn't clearly understood, has allowed for competing claims. While Cambodia insists the ICJ has ruled definitively in its favour, Thailand argues that parts of the border, particularly around ancient temples like Ta Muen Thom and Ta Moan Thom, remain under negotiation. A Joint Border Commission was set up in 2000, but little progress has been made.
Nationalism, diplomacy and the risks of modern-day conflict
Beyond the historical grievances, presentday politics have inflamed tensions. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, already under pressure at home, was suspended from office in July after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s powerful former leader Hun Sen. In the call, she referred to the Thai military as “the opposite side” and called Hun Sen “uncle,” sparking outrage from Thai lawmakers who accused her of undermining national sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet — son of Hun Sen — responded to the latest violence by declaring that while Cambodia seeks peaceful resolution, it “has no choice but to respond with armed force against armed aggression.”
Both countries have moved troops to the border and issued warnings of further escalation. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has warned Cambodia to stop attacking civilian and military targets or face “intensified self-defense measures.” Cambodia insists it acted only in response to drone incursions and unprovoked attacks.
Military rhetoric has grown louder. Thai officials have warned they are prepared for a “high-level operation” if their sovereignty is threatened. Cambodia has stopped imports of Thai fruit, banned Thai media, and evacuated its diplomatic staff.
Even minor provocations have had outsized consequences. In February, Cambodian civilians, escorted by troops, sang their national anthem at the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, prompting Thai soldiers to intervene. Earlier, conservative voices in Thailand warned that joint energy exploration with Cambodia could risk ceding territory — specifically, the island of Koh Kood.
The path ahead: More talks or more clashes?
Despite the rising tension, both countries have occasionally reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue. After the May 28 clash, Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to meet through their Joint Border Commission. But even as diplomatic statements pledge restraint, soldiers remain mobilised near the border.
The Preah Vihear temple continues to symbolise more than just ancient heritage — it embodies centuries of shifting borders, colonial legacy, and wounded national pride, and finds itself at the centre of a centuries old conflict.
(With inputs from agencies)
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