Cambodia accuses Thailand of air strikes after ASEAN talks

Kiripost / AKP

Cambodia has accused Thailand of launching air strikes on its territory just hours after regional crisis talks were held in Kuala Lumpur, raising fresh alarm over escalating border clashes between the two neighbours.

Officials in Phnom Penh said Thai fighter jets bombed areas in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces on Monday, including parts of Srae Nouy commune near the famed Angkor temple complex. The strikes came shortly after Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, announced that bilateral talks would take place this week in Chanthaburi to address the violence.

Renewed fighting this month has already claimed at least 43 lives—23 in Thailand and 20 in Cambodia—and displaced more than 900,000 people on both sides of the frontier. The conflict stems from a long‑running territorial dispute over the colonial‑era demarcation of their 800‑kilometre border and ancient temple ruins scattered along it.

Thailand’s military said the air raids were in response to dozens of rockets fired from Cambodia into Thai territory. Phnom Penh, however, accused Bangkok of indiscriminate shelling, reporting that at least 40 artillery rounds struck civilian homes in Battambang province on 22 December. One Chinese worker was wounded, according to Cambodia’s interior ministry.

Despite the exchanges, Cambodian officials insisted they remained “optimistic” about a ceasefire, while Sihasak warned that Wednesday’s meeting may not deliver an immediate truce. “Our position is a ceasefire does not come with an announcement, but must come from actions,” he said.

ASEAN foreign ministers, convened by Malaysia, urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and prioritise the safe return of displaced civilians. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stressed the “urgent attention” required, warning of wider ramifications if the conflict continues.

The United States, which helped broker a fragile truce in October under President Donald Trump, has also pressed for renewed peace. Washington’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hoped for a ceasefire “by early this week,” though clashes have persisted across nearly all border provinces.

As the General Border Committee prepares to meet on 24 December, ASEAN has reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful resolution and respect for international law. For now, however, the situation remains volatile, with both sides trading accusations and civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

-2025-12-23