Thailand and Cambodia’s Amplified Border Dispute

July 28th, 2025
Elisa Ma

On July 24, Thai and Cambodian armed forces confronted each other at multiple border locations. Continued fighting has already led to over 34 dead and 160,000 fleeing their homes, but thankfully, a ceasefire is in the talks. With decades of relative peace and generations of shared culture, the outcome of these border disputes can have long-term impacts on Southeast Asian relations.

Historic Background

The 817-kilometer (508-mile) land border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a source of contention ever since it was demarcated by French colonists during their occupation of French Indochina—which contains parts of modern-day Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos—from 1863 to 1953. Notably, the Thai government has unsuccessfully attempted to claim Prasat Preah Vihear—a culturally significant Hindu temple situated on Cambodian territory—leading to tensions or having their considerations dismissed by international authorities in 1959, 1962, 2008, 2011 and 2013.

Political Response

After a May 2025 troop clash at the disputed region of Chong Bok killed one Cambodian soldier, tensions between the Thai and Cambodian governments have heightened as both sides have deemed the other as the aggressor.

To mend border hostility, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had a phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. When that phone call was leaked, protests emerged as Shinawatra was believed to have belittled Thailand’s military, leading to the Thai Constitutional Court suspending her term on July 1, 2025. Thaksin Shinawatra—Shinawatra’s father and the Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001-2006—faltering close ties with Hun Sen are believed to mirror their respective countries' political situations. While Hun Sen handed his Cambodian Prime Minister role to his son, Hun Manet, in 2023 after 38 years, he is still believed to play a major role in Cambodian politics.

International Reactions

US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to call for an immediate ceasefire, which both countries have agreed to, but fighting has continued. The Trump Administration has also threatened 36% tariffs on Thai and Cambodian imports starting in August if negotiations are unsatisfactory.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has spoken with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Malaysian Prime Minister about a potential ceasefire. China—Thailand and Cambodia's largest trading partner—has also proposed moderating talks.

Extemp Analysis by: Ty Tan

Question: What endemic tensions are driving the persistent conflict between Thailand and Cambodia?

AGD: This question can go a lot of ways, either with a joke about their politics (The Shinawatra and Hun dynasties offer plenty of funny political moments to discuss), a heart story about a genuine person fearing their lives as result of border clashes, or an intriguing historical intro that connects with a person or analyst telling the tensions going into today.

Background: The question is worded in a way that is asking you to identify on the lines of squo change sub, as opposed to an evaluative question. I would cover:

The history of colonial borders that left Thailand and Cambodia bitter
A history of peace following 2011 and 2013
A renewed violence that persisted in May and July of 2025, and how endemic issues drive this continued fight

Answer: Consistent Issues that fracture their relationship

Border Tensions
Political Fights
Nationalism

Analysis + Concluding Thoughts:

To be honest, this question acts a historically driven squo change question that does more of a past present structure. For your 1st point, you would discuss the obvious, how colonial borders drive conflict over who owns what land, specifically around Preah Vihear. The second point would dicsuss elite infighting, and how the top brass of the Shinawatra and Hun family are driving the desire to fight. Lastly, I would discuss the power of nationalism, and how military identity and a desire to maintain sovereignty and prove superiority in SEA drives both sides to fight. The question is honestly interesting and has a lot more nuance—I implore you to do your due diligence reading on Thailand and Cambodia to learn more.