What is the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute? 

• The Thailand–Cambodia border dispute mainly comes from the colonial era.

1. Root cause of the dispute

• In 1907, France (which ruled Cambodia at the time) drew border maps between Thailand (then Siam) and Cambodia
• These maps placed the Preah Vihear Temple and nearby areas on the Cambodian side
• Thailand disputes the accuracy of these maps, while Cambodia accepts them

2.  Preah Vihear Temple issue

• Preah Vihear is an 11th-century Hindu temple located near the border
• In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia
• However, the surrounding land was not clearly demarcated, keeping the dispute alive

3. Why clashes still happen

• Both countries deploy troops near the border
• The area has strategic, cultural, and nationalist importance
• Political tensions often turn small incidents into armed clashes

4. Current situation

• Periodic military confrontations and exchanges of fire occur
• Each side accuses the other of provocation
• Ceasefire talks remain difficult due to lack of mutual trust