On July 28, 2025, Thailand and Cambodia reached a ceasefire after days of escalation in conflict beginning on July 24. The escalation began a day after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers, including one who lost his leg. However, the series of events that led to the escalation were disputed between the two countries, with both sides blaming the other.
Thailand and Cambodia exchanged artillery fire and rocket strikes, and the Thai Air Force launched F-16 airstrikes, marking the worst fighting between the two since 2011. The fighting killed at least 43 people, including many civilians, and displaced over 300,000 in both countries, Reuters reported on June 29.
After a long history of conflict and numerous disagreements, can there be a path toward long-term peace between Thailand and Cambodia?
Causes Behind the Escalation
The conflict stems from ambiguities in colonial-era boundaries, particularly around the Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temple zones. Despite 1962 and 2013 rulings by the International Court of Justice favoring Cambodia in the temple dispute, it remains unclear which country has a right to the surrounding territory, which feeds recurrent border tension.
On May 28 2025, clashes at the border killed a Cambodian soldier. Each country accused the other of initiating aggression. Sao Phal Niseiy, Editor in Chief of Cambodianess, told Peace News Network (PNN), “However, no investigation has been conducted to find out what happened and to help de-escalate the tension. Instead, the focus was on escalating the conflict through unilateral actions, including border closures, which not only went beyond military issues but also harm the economy.”
Politics have further inflamed the situation. A personal feud between Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia’s Hun Sen (later Hun Manet as prime minister) has spilled into the situation, adding a heightened nationalist dimension.
Nurainee Jangoe, a data analyst at Deep South Watch who has experience in peace work, said, “It’s important to see this conflict not merely as a territorial disagreement, but as one tied to historical memory, national identity, and political interests.“
Both sides also engaged in economic saber‑rattling. Cambodia banned imports of certain Thai goods, and Thai telecom regulators cut off internet to Cambodia, adding economic pressure to the military escalation.
A Fragile Ceasefire
The ceasefire reached on July 28 in Malaysia remains fragile, as Thailand’s military has accused Cambodia of violating it twice already, although Cambodia denies this. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia and other members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were on hand to help monitor the ceasefire.
A Path Towards Long-Term Peace
Nadia Payo, a lecturer at Prince of Songkhla University’s Faculty of Political Science in Thailand’s Pattani province, said the ceasefire was a significant early step.
“The ceasefire—achieved without preconditions—shows a willingness to de-escalate,” Payo said. However, she noted that genuine peace demands more than an end to violence. “It demands sustained dialogue to address long-standing political tensions, historical grievances, and unresolved border disputes—none of which can be separated from nationalism, identity, and deeper structures of power,” she said.
Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, an assistant professor at the Gender and Development Studies (GDS) program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), discussed ASEAN’s engagement with Thailand and Cambodia. “A regional consensus is urgently needed on the scope of ASEAN’s role in conflict resolution and humanitarian intervention,” she said. “Without this, peace will remain precarious and reactive rather than proactive and transformative.”
Below are some other ways in which Thai and Cambodian leaders, as well as international bodies, can help to build peace between Thailand and Cambodia.
Humanitarian Assistance
Assistance is needed for people in both countries living near the border whose homes have been destroyed. Human Rights Watch has condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urged both sides to protect civilians, especially challenging the use of cluster munitions.
Demarcation via ICJ or ASEAN‑mediated process
Cambodia has formally requested new judgment from the ICJ regarding border lines adjacent to Preah Vihear. The Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) was established in 2000 as a mechanism to discuss the issue of demarcation. ASEAN can continue to play a role in mediation. An opinion piece in Asia Media Centre by Thapiporn Suporn points out that even though ASEAN’s effectiveness has been questioned, it “still plays a critical role in preventing conflicts from escalating into full-scale war.” However, in order for ASEAN involvement to be more effective, issues surrounding its principle of non-interference must be addressed.
Political De-escalation and Confidence Building
Leaders must defuse personal rivalries. Jangoe described peacebuilding as a long-term process that addresses not only direct violence but also the underlying structural and cultural causes. She said, “This involves fostering mutual understanding and promoting sustainable, inclusive border development. Emphasis should be placed on peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms that can support long-term stability.”
Keywords: Thailand, Cambodia, border, Thai-Cambodian border, conflict, conflict resolution, peace, ASEAN
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
