Thailand Withdraws Envoy, Shuts Borders Amid Deadly Clashes With Cambodia
Thailand has withdrawn its ambassador from Cambodia and sealed its borders following the most severe armed conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade. The dramatic escalation, which has reportedly killed at least 11 civilians and forced more than 100,000 Thais to flee, prompted Bangkok to demand Cambodia recall its envoy and warn of further military action.
In a strongly worded statement, the Royal Thai Government condemned what it called “violations of Thailand’s sovereignty and international law” after a landmine incident on its territory injured five Thai soldiers. The government announced it was downgrading diplomatic relations and closing border crossings in its northeastern provinces.
“The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty,” the official release stated, calling on Cambodia to cease all attacks and take responsibility for the recent incidents.
The situation spiraled on Thursday when artillery volleys were exchanged along the disputed border, killing at least 11 civilians. In response, Thailand scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia. Both nations have blamed each other for initiating the clash, which reportedly involved heavy shelling in at least six locations along the frontier.
Tensions have been high since May when a brief firefight erupted in a contested border area. While both sides initially agreed to de-escalate, the situation remained volatile. Cambodia banned Thai media and certain imports, while Thailand imposed tight border restrictions, which have now culminated in a full closure.
The conflict is rooted in a century-old border dispute, most prominently centered around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty of the temple area to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling it reaffirmed in 2013 after deadly clashes in 2011. However, Thailand has continued to reject the court’s jurisdiction over the broader border dispute.
