PHNOM PENH: One week after a ceasefire halted deadly military clashes, Cambodia issued a formal demand on Saturday for neighbouring Thailand to withdraw its forces from contested border territories that Phnom Penh claims as its own.
The latest flare-up in a decades-old border dispute saw intense fighting in December, resulting in dozens of casualties and displacing approximately one million residents from both sides before the two nations agreed to a ceasefire on December 27.
Cambodia demands Thai withdrawal from contested territory
In a strongly-worded statement, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the immediate removal of “all Thai military personnel and equipment from the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia to positions fully consistent with the legally established boundary.”
Phnom Penh alleges that during the recent clashes, Thai forces seized areas across four Cambodian border provinces. The statement also called on Thailand to end “all hostile military activities” along the frontier and “within Cambodian territory.”
Thailand rejects accusations, insists it holds sovereign land
The Thai army swiftly rejected Cambodia’s claims, maintaining that its troops had not occupied Cambodian territory. A military statement insisted that Thai forces are deployed only in areas that “have always belonged to Thailand.”
The disagreement centres on a historically contested 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, a legacy of colonial-era demarcation that has left both nations claiming sovereignty over certain zones, including areas surrounding ancient temple ruins.
Dispute intensifies over alleged “annexation” of border village
Tensions were further inflamed on Friday when Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra accused Thailand of the “illegal annexation” of the border village of Chouk Chey.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, speaking during a visit to troops in the border province of Surin, countered the allegation. He asserted that Thailand “has never breached another country’s sovereignty and has acted in line with international regulations.”
Fragile truce under strain as diplomatic standoff continues
The exchange underscores the fragility of the current ceasefire. While guns have fallen silent, the fundamental territorial disagreement remains unresolved, threatening the stability of the region. The international community is closely watching whether diplomatic channels can sustain the truce and pave the way for a lasting resolution to the protracted border conflict.
