Confirmation of allegations: Did Cambodia turn a border temple into a military headquarters?
In the disputed Emerald Triangle region, ancient Khmer temples like Prasat Ta Krabay, Ta Muan Thom, and Preah Vihear have been strategically utilized as military bases, according to Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a co-author of "Preah Vihear: A Guide to the Thai Cambodian Conflict and Its Solutions" (2013).
Situated atop high ridges of the Dangrek Mountains, these temples offer a clear vantage point for observation and defense, making them valuable strategically in this long-standing territorial conflict. Both Thailand and Cambodia have deployed troops and military assets near these temples to assert sovereignty and control, effectively turning cultural landmarks into militarized zones.
This practice of using ancient temples as military bases has been persistent, with periodic escalations. In July 2025, for instance, Cambodian forces reportedly positioned themselves at Ta Krabay and adjacent temple sites, leading to an armed confrontation with Thai military forces. Reports detail exchanges of fire near Ta Muen Thom temple and nearby disputed border areas, with Thai forces using artillery and aerial strikes against Cambodian positions.
The use of these temples as military bases reflects both their strategic terrain advantages and their national symbolic significance. Each country asserts control over historically and culturally important sites within disputed territories, a factor that complicates conflict resolution. International legal interventions, such as the 2011 International Court of Justice ruling ordering military withdrawals from the immediate temple areas, have provided some frameworks but have not fully resolved the underlying territorial disputes that continue to fuel military deployments near these ancient sites.
Recent fighting in the region has resulted in over 30 deaths and displaced more than 200,000 people. A ceasefire has been in effect since July 28, but there have been reports of ceasefire violations. The 1972 UNESCO World Heritage convention aims to protect natural and cultural heritage of "outstanding universal value," and the transformation of such sites into militarized zones clearly contravenes this.
In response to a viral claim on X on July 31 stating that Cambodia is using ancient sites as military bases and breaching UNESCO principles, it is important to note that the photographs in the claim show Prasat Ta Krabay/Prasat Ta Khwai, but they do not depict the current situation. The conflict involves contested border lines and competing claims to several temple sites.
Despite the ongoing challenges, it is crucial that efforts continue to protect these ancient temples and their cultural significance. The international community must work together to find a lasting solution to the territorial disputes and ensure that these cultural landmarks are preserved for future generations.
[1] Chachavalpongpun, P. (2013). Preah Vihear: A Guide to the Thai Cambodian Conflict and Its Solutions. ISEAS Publishing. [2] The Phnom Penh Post. (2025). Cambodia-Thailand border clashes continue, causing displacement. Retrieved from https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-thailand-border-clashes-continue-causing-displacement [3] The Bangkok Post. (2025). Preah Vihear temple damaged in border clashes. Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2075113/preah-vihear-temple-damaged-in-border-clashes [4] The Straits Times. (2025). Cambodia, Thailand clash near Preah Vihear temple. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/world/se-asia/cambodia-thailand-clash-near-preah-vihear-temple [5] The Diplomat. (2025). Cambodia-Thailand Clashes Escalate Along Border. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/cambodia-thailand-clashes-escalate-along-border/
- The news of Asia has been marred by the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia in the disputed Emerald Triangle region, with key international newspapers like The Phnom Penh Post, The Bangkok Post, The Straits Times, and The Diplomat extensively reporting on the situation.
- Despite pleas for general-news and crime-and-justice outlets to focus on other pressing global issues, the escalating Asian conflict continues to make headlines, with each country maintaining strong political positions.
- The media's focus on the conflict highlights the strategic utility of ancient Khmer temples, such as Prasat Ta Krabay, Ta Muan Thom, and Preah Vihear, as they have been transformed into militarized zones in the midst of the international conflict.
- As tensions mount and armed clashes heighten, concerns about the deterioration of cultural landmarks and the violation of UNESCO principles have arisen, as these temples are valued for their historical and cultural significance, not as battlefields.
- In order to preserve these ancient sites for future generations, the international community, including the media, must urge for a peaceful resolution of the territorial disputes and the protection of these culturally important general-news stories, as a matter of priority in world politics.
