Thailand–Cambodia Border Dispute

Context: A long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has flared up again, leading to military skirmishes, political tensions, and a major diplomatic crisis.

Triggering Event (May 28, 2025):

• Armed clash in a disputed border area killed one Cambodian soldier.
• Both sides claimed self-defence; tension remains high despite a formal agreement to de-escalate.

Historical Context:

• Dispute traces back to colonial-era maps (1907) drawn under French rule, which Cambodia uses to claim territory.

• Thailand contests the accuracy of these maps.

• A major flashpoint is the Preah Vihear temple, near which several past clashes have occurred.

• 1962: ICJ awarded the area to Cambodia.

• 2011: Cambodia returned to the ICJ after deadly clashes.

• 2013: ICJ reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty.

Current Legal Standoff:

• Cambodia has now again approached the ICJ over new disputed areas.

• Thailand rejects ICJ jurisdiction, favouring a 2000 bilateral joint committee on border demarcation.

• Cambodia refuses further bilateral talks and insists on legal arbitration.

Underlying Causes:

• Territorial claims and nationalistic sentiments.

• Centuries-old rivalry and cultural enmity from when both were competing empires.