Thailand and Cambodia engage in diplomatic attempts to resolve lingering border disputes.
Phnom Penh's bustling streets echo the tension brewing between Cambodia and its neighbor, Thailand. The boundary between these Southeast Asian nations, spanning an expansive 820km, has been a hot-button issue for decades. Undemarcated sections of the border, including historic temples, have been points of contention over the years. The latest flare-up in this long-running spat came following a skirmish on May 28, which left a Cambodian soldier dead.
The Thai government has expressed hopes that a recent meeting with Cambodian officials will help resolve the dispute amicably, as shared on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's Facebook page. However, the standoff arrives at an inconvenient time for Thailand, given its battle to spur economic growth and dwindling popularity. Pressure is mounting on the government to take a firmer stance against its neighbor and toe the military's initial tough rhetoric.
Despite assurances of dialogue to manage the dispute and to quell nationalist sentiment, Thailand has hinted at drastic measures like closing the border and cutting off electricity supplies to its neighbor. In response, Cambodia has made moves to cease the purchase of Thai electricity, internet bandwidth, and produce, and has ordered local television stations to halt screenings of Thai films.
A resolution at this weekend's Joint Boundary Commission meeting in Phnom Penh looks unlikely, and the timeline for an outcome remains uncertain. Cambodia is intent on presenting a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine jurisdiction over four disputed border areas, while Thailand favors a bilateral solution.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet has emphasized the need for clarity and justice through international law and a peaceful resolution for long-lasting border clarity. Should ICJ intervention fail to resolve the dispute, Cambodia may consider bringing the issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, Thailand does not acknowledge the ICJ's jurisdiction over these territorial disputes, creating a stalemate in the resolution process.
Top stories today include the escalating war-and-conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand, as the latest flare-up in their long-running border dispute continues to unfold. Politics also play a significant role, with pressure on both governments to take a firmer stance, while thestandoff threatens to derail general-news headlines such as Thailand's battle to spur economic growth and Cambodia's pursuit of international legal intervention at the ICJ.
