Two Southeast Asian nations, Thailand and Cambodia, have agreed to a military repositioning after a recent border clash. This agreement will see their troops return to previous border positions, a crucial step in de-escalating the tensions that arose following the May 28 incident, which resulted in a Cambodian soldier’s death and prompted military buildups on both sides.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the accord, emphasizing a shared desire to ease the strained situation in the undemarcated border area. This aligns with prior statements from Thai defense officials, who had indicated that talks were ongoing to revert to the troop arrangements agreed upon in the previous year.
The enduring border disputes are rooted in historical mapping discrepancies from 1907, when Cambodia was a French colony. These undemarcated sections along the 817 km (508 miles) shared frontier have been a source of contention for over a century, occasionally leading to armed confrontations.
While bilateral negotiations, including a Joint Boundary Committee meeting, are on the agenda, Cambodia has reiterated its plea for the International Court of Justice to mediate the disputes. Thailand, however, maintains that all border issues should be resolved through direct negotiations and does not acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction in this regard.
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