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Understanding the Thailand-Cambodia Conflict
Written and Researched By: Nandana Jeevan
Published By: Meredith Yuen
Published: 1st December 2025
Rooted in centuries of rivalry and reignited by conflicts over a sacred temple, the Thailand-Cambodia conflict reveals how history and nationalism continue to define Southeast Asia’s contested borders.
History behind the conflict
The Thailand-Cambodia conflict stems from a long standing territorial rivalry between the two nations, owing to the ambiguities present within boundary demarcations. During the period of French colonial rule in Cambodia and British influences in Siam [1], various treaties such as the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1904 and 1907 were drafted, seeking to clearly state the demarcation of the boundaries between Siam and neighbouring territories. While these treaties were a pivotal step in ending the decades-long colonial influence over Siam, discrepancies and overlapping claims over several territories became a catalyst for future disputes. (The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 23 March 1907: Borders, Politics, and the Return of Angkor, 2025) In particular, imprecise claims over the Preah Vihear temple became a crucial point of focus, leading to recurring conflicts that periodically escalated into military confrontations along the shared border.
(Where border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia are taking place, Datawrapper/The Independent, 28 July 2025)
The Preah Vihear temple is an ancient Khmer[2] Hindu temple situated on the edge of a 525 meter high cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, along the border of Cambodia and Thailand. Constructed primarily during the 11th and 12th centuries, the temple was dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, serving as a site for both religious worship and pilgrimage. (Ciorciari, 2009). Following Cambodia's successful bid to have the site listed, the building was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, owing to its historical and cultural significance (Cambodia Celebrates 12 Years of Preah Vihear Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2020). Thailand strongly opposed this decision, arguing that Cambodia’s unilateral application violated prior agreements made between the two governments (Newey, 2025). This fueled anger and resentment on both sides, triggering protests and heightening uncertainty in the surrounding border communities.
(Photo of the Preah Vihear temple on the Dangrek mountain range in Preah Vihear province, Preah Vihear Provincial Administration, Khmer Times, June 16, 2023)
Current Situation
Following the disagreement, various protests were sparked across Thailand and various clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops occurred along the border of the two nations. In July of 2025, heavy fighting broke out along the Thailand-Cambodia border, leaving at least 38 people dead and more than 300,000 civilians displaced. After acknowledging the severity of these clashes, both sides agreed to a ceasefire on July 28th in Kuala Lumpur (Teekah & Frankel, 2025). The ceasefire was agreed upon with the guidance of US president Donald Trump, who held calls with the respective leaders. Following this, Thailand and Cambodia officially signed a peace declaration in October, reportedly for the greater good of the citizens living in both countries (Regan & Olarn, 2025).
The peace agreement was strained by a major incident in which three Thai soldiers were severely injured near the Cambodian border. According to a statement released by the Thai army, the three soldiers were wounded after they accidentally stepped on a landmine while patrolling an area between Thailand's Sisaket and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear provinces (Hogue et al., 2025). Following the incident, a spokesperson for the Thai army, Major General Winthai Survaree, stated that it indicated that Cambodia had breached the ceasefire between the two by planting landmines along the Thai side of the border, warning that if these violations continues that Thailand might “exercise the right of self-defense under international law principles”. In response, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence released a statement explicitly declaring that Cambodia had “never used, produced, or deployed landmines under any circumstance” and that Cambodia had “strictly and fully honoured obligations under international law” (Al Jazeera, 2025). The conflicting statements from both governments further deepened mistrust and escalated tensions across the border.
(Marking time on the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, International Crisis Group, 26 July 2012)
The recent border clashes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread displacement, with many residents losing their homes and experiencing severe economic hardship. In November of 2025, Cambodia was forced to evacuate over 250 families from Prey Chan, a region located near the disputed border. The evacuation had taken place after a shootout that left one person dead and three others injured. Both countries claim no responsibility for the shootout, arguing that they were not the first ones to open fire (Al Jazeera, 2025). This incident is just one among many, raising the question of the effectiveness of the Thai-Cambodian ceasefire agreement.
What will happen in the future
As of August 2025, Thailand and Cambodia have both agreed to allow observers from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to monitor a fragile ceasefire (Nachemson, 2025). According to a joint statement released by the General Border committee, the peace agreement will involve each country setting up its own interim observer team of defense officials to promote transparency, communication and trust along the border. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the US hopes these developments are an “important step forward in solidifying the ceasefire agreement” (Al Jazeera, 2025). The Thai and Cambodian governments are both expected to honour their commitments towards ending these conflicts and bringing a lasting solution towards these border conflicts.
Although the situation is still uncertain, these efforts are a tentative step toward peace between Thailand and Cambodia. Lasting stability will depend on both countries working together and keeping their promises.
Glossary/Notes
Boundary demarcation: The process of defining and marking the physical or legal limits of something, such as countries, properties, or categories
Colonialism: The practice of one country establishing control over another territory, often for economic or political gain.
Catalyst: Something that triggers or accelerates a change or significant event.
Pilgrimage: A journey made to a sacred place for religious or spiritual reasons.
Unilateral: An action or decision made by one party or country without the agreement or participation of others.
[1]: Former name for Thailand up until a series of name changes in the 20th century.
[2]: An ancient Cambodian state that ruled vast areas of mainland Southeast Asia from about 802 CE to 1431.
References
The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 23 March 1907: Borders, Politics, and the Return of Angkor. (2025, 10 4). Wonders of Cambodia. Retrieved 11 21, 2025, from
Ciorciari, J. D. (2009). Thailand and Cambodia: The Battle for Preah Vihear. SPICE - Stanford. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/thailand_and_cambodia_the_battle_for_preah_vihear
Cambodia celebrates 12 years of Preah Vihear Temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (2020, July 6). UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2162/
Newey, S. (2025, July 27). Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting? Disputed border explained. The Telegraph. Retrieved November 22, 2025, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/27/why-are-thailand-and-cambodia-going-to-war/
Al Jazeera. (2025, August 12). Thailand accuses Cambodia of planting landmines after soldier injured. Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 22, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/12/thailand-accuses-cambodia-of-planting-landmines-after-soldier-injured
Hogue, T., Hudson, A., & Mallard, W. (2025, August 10). Thai soldiers injured by landmine near Cambodia amid fragile ceasefire. Reuters. Retrieved November 22, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-soldiers-injured-by-landmine-near-cambodia-amid-fragile-ceasefire-2025-08-09/
Teekah, E., & Frankel, J. (2025, November 15). Thailand-Cambodia Conflict (2025) | Background, Escalation, Map, & Ceasefire. Britannica. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Thailand-Cambodia-Conflict
Al Jazeera. (2025, November 13). Cambodia evacuates hundreds from disputed Thai border as tensions reignite. Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 29, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/13/cambodia-evacuates-hundreds-from-disputed-thai-border-as-tensions-reignite
Regan, H., & Olarn, K. (2025, November 12). Trump’s Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement is falling apart after Cambodian villager killed in fresh clashes. CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/12/asia/thailand-cambodia-border-clashes-intl-hnk
Nachemson, A. (2025, August 7). Thailand, Cambodia border tensions continue as talks conclude in Malaysia. Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 25, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/7/locals-pray-for-peace-as-thailand-cambodia-tensions-continue-despite-talks
Al Jazeera. (2025, August 7). Cambodia and Thailand agree to deploy ASEAN ceasefire monitors. Al Jazeera. Retrieved November 29, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/7/cambodia-and-thailand-agree-to-deploy-asean-ceasefire-monitors
