On June 7, the situation on the Thai-Cambodia border, which had previously shown a cooling momentum, escalated again.
Thailand issued a number of measures on the same day, including sending more troops to the border, closing checkpoints, and suspending tourists' exchanges. At the same time, the Thai Foreign Ministry also stated that it is seeking to hold bilateral talks.
Cambodia has not yet responded to the above measures.
Thai-Cambodia senior officials met and failed to reach an agreement
On June 7, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Putan met with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Di Siha. After the meeting, the Thai side issued a statement saying that it was regrettable that Thailand and Cambodia failed to reach an agreement on some issues. In response, Thailand will strengthen its response measures and send additional troops to border areas.
Border inspection stations suspend entry and exit of tourists from both countries
On the 7th, the Royal Thai Army issued a statement saying that due to the escalation of tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the Thai Army will take tougher response measures and close the Thai-Cambodia border inspection stations as the situation is.
Later that day, the Special Mission Force of the Royal Thai Marine Corps Chanthaburi Province issued the most urgent document, announcing that Thailand and Cambodian tourists were temporarily banned from commuting through the two permanent border channels of Chanthaburi Province, but did not include Cambodian workers who had legally entered Thailand. In addition, cross-border trade between the two countries proceeds as usual.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Will promote bilateral talks and peacefully resolve border disputes
Spokesperson of the Thai Foreign Ministry
On June 7, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Thai Ministry of Defense and the Royal Thai Army held a joint press conference. At the meeting, a spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry said that Thailand will be committed to promoting bilateral talks between Thailand and Cambodia on the 14th to resolve the border dispute between the two countries. A spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry said that the Thai and Cambodia should conduct dialogue at all levels on the basis of frank and friendly relations and agree to peacefully resolve the problem through bilateral mechanisms. In addition, the spokesperson said that in response to the current situation, Thailand is considering taking measures to control the opening and closure of Thai-Cambodia border ports, but will avoid relevant measures affecting trade between the two countries.
Thai-Cambodia border situation escalation timeline
Thai Prime Minister Petton (left) and Cambodia Prime Minister Honmanai (right)
There is an undefinite border between Thailand and Cambodia. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding in 2000 to oppose unilateral actions that could change the status quo.
This round of escalation in the border situation between Thailand and Cambodia was a brief fire exchange between the two sides on May 28.
Early on the morning of May 28, Cambodian and Thai troops had a brief conflict in a region bordering Cambodia with territorial disputes in the northeast Ubon Ratchathani Province and Cambodia, and the fire exchange lasted for about 10 minutes. The frontline commanders of both sides then contacted and the fire exchange stopped. The Thai side said that when Thai soldiers were patrolling, Cambodia took the lead in firing, and the Thai side fought back, and there were no casualties on the Thai side. The Cambodian military confirmed that the firefighting killed a Cambodian soldier.
On May 29, Thai Prime Minister Petton and Cambodian Prime Minister Hon Manai both said that they do not want the conflict to escalate and will ease border tensions through dialogue.
On May 29, the Cambodian Army issued a statement saying that Cambodia and Thailand reached an agreement to maintain restraint and avoid armed conflicts in disputed border areas. The statement said that the two sides will continue to resolve issues through all existing mechanisms, such as the Joint Border Commission, the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Commission and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries in 2000.
On the afternoon of June 2, the Cambodian army discovered and intercepted a drone that illegally invaded airspace during the border patrol of the Pyrvia Province. The Cambodian military preliminarily determined that the drone was controlled by the Thai military and was suspected to be used to reconnaissance the deployment of the Cambodian military. The notice said that the drone was flying over the Cambodian military stationed area, intending to collect border military deployment information, but was eventually intercepted and detained by frontline troops.
Source: CCTV News
