Thailand and Cambodia say they will return to agreed border positions after fatal clash

Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai | Photo Credit: AP

Cambodia's Defence Ministry confirmed connected Sunday (June 8, 2025) that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to instrumentality their troops to erstwhile borderline positions aft a clash successful which a Cambodian worker was killed prompted some to reenforce their subject presence.

The Cambodian statement, which said some sides wished to easiness tensions pursuing the incidental successful an undemarcated country connected May 28, came aft Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said some countries were successful talks to defuse the concern and would revert to positions agreed successful 2024.

For days, the 2 governments person exchanged statements, saying they were committed to uncovering a peaceful resolution. Neither gave details astir wherever oregon to what grade their subject forces had been reinforced astatine the weekend.

Thailand operates 17 authoritative borderline crossings with Cambodia, spanning 7 provinces on their shared 817 km (508 miles) frontier, Thai authorities information shows. Both countries person for much than a period contested sovereignty astatine undemarcated points on their shared border, which was mapped by France successful 1907 erstwhile Cambodia was its colony.

Thailand's Phumtham said some sides hoped the borderline contented could beryllium afloat resolved done bilateral talks, including a gathering of the Joint Boundary Committee connected June 14.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry reiterated a petition to bring the borderline disputes to the International Court of Justice successful a missive to Thai officials connected Friday (June 6, 2025).

"Given the complexity, humanities nature, and sensitivity of these disputes, it is progressively evident that bilateral dialog unsocial whitethorn nary longer suffice to bring astir a broad and lasting solution," Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said successful the enactment shared with reporters connected Sunday (June 8, 2025).

"A determination rendered by the ICJ, grounded successful planetary law, would connection a fair, impartial, and durable resolution," helium said.

The Thai authorities has said it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction and projected that each boundary-related issues beryllium resolved done bilateral negotiations.

Tensions betwixt the countries escalated successful 2008 implicit an 11th-century Hindu temple, starring to skirmishes implicit respective years and astatine slightest a twelve deaths, including during a week-long speech of artillery successful 2011.

In the latest flare up, Thailand chopped operating hours astatine 10 borderline crossings with Cambodia, citing information concerns.

Checkpoints, including the busiest successful Thailand's eastbound state of Sa Kaeo, halve operating hours connected Sunday (June 8, 2025) to 8 a.m. (0100 GMT) to 4 p.m. section time, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., previously, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters.

The governments of Thailand and Cambodia antecedently enjoyed warmer ties, owing to a relationship betwixt erstwhile leaders, Thaksin Shinawatra from Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen. Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Hun Sen's son, Hun Manet, are present the incumbent premier ministers of their countries and the struggle has raised questions implicit their relationship.

Published - June 08, 2025 10:23 p.m. IST