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Thai and Cambodian Leaders Visit Disputed Border in Heightened Standoff

The trips follow heightened military deployments accompanied by economic measures threatening to topple Thailand’s fragile ruling coalition.

Overview

  • Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra inspected the Aranyaprathet border crossing today while former Cambodian premier Hun Sen toured troops in Oddar Meanchey province.
  • Both sides have massed troops along their 817-kilometer frontier, with Cambodia suspending fuel exports and Thailand sealing multiple land crossings.
  • Economic sanctions have slashed cross-border trade, dampened casino foot traffic and forced many border businesses to shut early with revenue losses up to 75%.
  • The escalating dispute has fragmented Thailand’s ruling coalition, prompted a parliamentary no-confidence motion against the prime minister and triggered judicial and anti-graft investigations.
  • The clashes trace back to a century-old claim around Preah Vihear Temple following a 2015 ICJ ruling in Cambodia’s favor and a failed bid to resolve the Chong Bok land dispute.