Thailand has reinforced its military presence along the disputed border with Cambodia, following an increase in troops on the other side, according to Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. This move comes amid rising tensions between the two Southeast Asian countries since a Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area.
Phumtham stated that Cambodia rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that could have led to de-escalation. “Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border,” Phumtham said in a statement. “Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly.”
The Thai army also claimed that Cambodian civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand’s territory, stating that “these provocations, and the buildup of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force.” The army added that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the Cambodia border.
In response, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized his country’s stance, saying, “This is our stance, not to initiate conflict, but to defend ourselves. Our guiding principles are … respect for international legal frameworks. These grounded strategies are key to safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty.” Hun Manet also asserted that Cambodia’s armed forces are ready to defend against aggression.
Despite these tensions, Thailand remains committed to pursuing bilateral dialogue to restore stability. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said, “The Thai side reaffirms its readiness to engage through established bilateral mechanisms, particularly the upcoming meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), scheduled for June 14. We sincerely hope that the negotiations will proceed in good faith.”
The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back over a century, with both countries contesting sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817km land border. A meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission is scheduled for June 14 to address border demarcation issues.