Thailand caught between fears of Chinese weapons to Cambodia and risks of escalation
Thailand’s National Security Council laid down the principles to manage the border crisis with Cambodia. Concerns remain over Chinese military support for Phnom Penh, even though Beijing downplays the issue. The murderer of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian lawmaker who opposed Hun Sen, has been sentenced to life in prison. The reasons for the act are still unknown.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Thailand’s National Security Council issued a statement today laying down the principles to manage the border crisis with Cambodia, which turned deadly last May.
In it, the Cambodian side is asked to accept the conditions Thailand set before any other initiative between the parties, and approve the construction of a barrier on the border between the two countries. It also mentions the Cambodian nationals detained after entering Thai territory without permission who are set to be expelled on 10 October on orders of the local provincial governor.
In Thailand, public pressure is growing for the government to act. For Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, this means taking moderate actions to avoid an escalation while meet national security needs. This requires a dual approach, one international one, as indicated by his address at the UN General Assembly, and the other military.
With respect to this last point, Prime Minister Anutin reiterated at the end of the Council meeting the government’s support for the country’s military and its preparation for armed conflict, if necessary.
The task of resolving the dispute remains with the General Border Committee, which is led by Defence Minister General Nathapol Nakphanit on the Thai side.
The focus now is the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from the limited but "sensitive" regions where the border between the two countries has not yet been jointly demarcated.
In the past few days, a couple of factors have complicated the situation, with tensions rising as a result.
The Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced to life imprisonment the Thai national who last January murdered in broad daylight in the Thai capital Lim Kimya, a former lawmaker for the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was opposed to the country's strongman, Hun Sen.
After the murder, Ekkalak Pheanoi, who was aided by two Cambodian nationals, fled to Cambodia from where he was later extradited.
Although he was initially handed down a death sentence, which was later commuted to life imprisonment because of his confession to the killing, the motives for the act, whether personal revenge or a contract killing, remain unclear.
More significant, however, were the reactions to reports of possible Chinese military support for Cambodia, including at the height of tensions between the two countries, which resulted in scores of deaths and 300,000 people displaced on both sides of the border.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow today attempted to downplay media stories that raised public concern and led to calls for clarification from various political parties.
For the minister, any supply of weapons to a country with which China has very close ties would fall within normal commercial practices and “does not mean they are assisting Cambodia to invade Thailand.”
For its part, China’s embassy in Bangkok denied the various media reports, including one by The New York Times, suggesting that Chinese rockets were used in manoeuvres prior to July clashes, which would have somehow spurred Cambodia into action.
.png)
16/07/2025 15:36
