Thailand and Cambodia Edge Toward War Amid Border Clashes

Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has warned that escalating border clashes with Cambodia, which have claimed over a dozen civilian lives, could lead to a full-scale war. The conflict, rooted in a decades-old territorial dispute dating back to the French colonial era, has intensified after heightened tensions began in late May, when a Cambodian soldier was reportedly killed. Both nations have blamed each other for provoking the violence and have called on the international community for intervention.

Fighting intensified early Friday, according to Thailand’s military, with Bangkok deploying F-16 fighter jets to strike Cambodian military positions. Cambodian officials have criticized the Thai attacks in Oddar Meanchey province, stating that civilian casualties, including the death of the abbot of the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, have occurred as a result. Thailand had previously reported 14 civilian deaths allegedly from Cambodian artillery fire, further straining relations between the two countries.

Both governments have ordered evacuations from border areas, with more than 100,000 people displaced as a result. The clashes have continued despite international calls for a ceasefire, with the United Nations Security Council set to convene Friday to address the crisis. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs ASEAN, has urged both Thailand and Cambodia to consider a ceasefire, offering Malaysia’s assistance in the process.

China, which maintains close ties with both Thailand and Cambodia, has emphasized that a peaceful resolution would best serve the long-term interests of both nations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated, "Bearing in mind the common interest and concerns of regional countries, China upholds a just and impartial stance." Despite the tension, cross-border air services continue, with Cambodian aviation authorities instructing civilian flights to avoid conflict zones.