Hindu Temple Dispute Reignites Thailand-Cambodia Tensions: Jets and Artillery Used In Latest Border Clash

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared dangerously on Thursday (24 July) as both countries exchanged heavy firepower, including rockets, artillery, and airstrikes, in a deadly escalation of their long-simmering border dispute, NDTV reported.

The clash, which erupted in the contested Emerald Triangle region where the borders of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge, claimed the life of at least one civilian.

Cambodian forces reportedly launched rocket and artillery attacks into Thai territory, prompting Thailand to scramble F-16 fighter jets in retaliation, targeting Cambodian military positions.

At the heart of the confrontation lies a long-standing disagreement over historical claims to several temple sites nestled within the border zone—an area rich in cultural heritage and nationalist symbolism for both nations.

Hindu Temple Dispute Reignites

The latest flashpoint came in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire in a contested area.

The clash has reignited nationalist rhetoric in both countries, especially around the 11th-century Preah Vihear Hindu temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the lesser-known but symbolically potent Ta Moan Thom temple, The Independent reported.

Preah Vihear, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, has long been at the centre of the dispute.

Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, Thailand has continued to claim the land surrounding it.

Tensions escalated again in 2008 after Cambodia sought UNESCO recognition for the site, resulting in years of sporadic clashes and a dozen deaths.

The ICJ ruled again in 2013, confirming Cambodia’s sovereignty over the temple and adjacent land, but Thailand has not fully accepted the verdict.

Prasat Ta Muen Thom, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, was built during the reign of Khmer king Udayadityavarman II and lies in the Dangrek mountains along the ancient Khmer highway.

Dating back to the Khmer Empire (9th–15th centuries), the temple complex occupies a strategic mountain pass connecting Angkor in Cambodia to Phimai in Thailand, and includes at least two other ancient shrines.

Cambodia claims the temple based on the historical boundaries of the Khmer Empire, which once encompassed present-day Cambodia and parts of Thailand.

However, Thailand maintains that the site lies within its Surin province.

In February this year, nationalist outrage flared in Thailand when a group of Cambodians, accompanied by troops, sang their national anthem at the Ta Moan Thom temple, another ancient Hindu site claimed by both nations. Thai troops intervened, deepening the standoff.

While the current governments of both countries, led by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, have publicly committed to dialogue and peace, nationalist protests erupted in Bangkok last week outside the Cambodian Embassy, with demonstrators waving Thai flags and demanding action.

Thailand’s military, diverging from the government’s more conciliatory tone, has warned of readiness for a "high-level operation" if national sovereignty is threatened. Paetongtarn later echoed the military’s stance, stressing, however, that a peaceful solution remains the priority.

A joint border commission meeting scheduled for June 14 is expected to focus on easing tensions. But with Cambodia now threatening to take four unresolved cases to the ICJ and Thailand insisting on bilateral resolution, the road ahead appears uncertain.

Recent Causes of the Clash

Despite historically warm ties between the current Thai and Cambodian governments, rooted in the personal relationship between ex-leaders Thaksin Shinawatra and Hun Sen, nationalist tensions are rising in Thailand.

Conservative backlash to joint maritime talks and a provocative Cambodian visit to the disputed Ta Moan Thom Hindu temple have fueled the strain.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is caught between domestic challenges and military pressure, as the army signals readiness for strong action while the government maintains a preference for peaceful resolution. 

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