The Thai-Cambodian conflict is far more complex than mere border disputes that is a burning issue for both nations at the moment, driving ultranationalist groups in both Thailand and Cambodia, with their insatiable patriotism (or fanaticism), wish to escalate the conflict, and urging their respective governments to adopt extreme measures. This is now concretely impacting the economies and a segment of the populations of both countries.
On the Thai side, those affected include:
- Border traders and merchants.
- Exporters of Thai goods, especially consumer products and agricultural produce, the latter now banned from entering Cambodia through border passes..
- The call to boycott Thai products by former Cambodian PM and Senate President Hun Sen and Cambodian ultranationalist groups.
- The Thai film and drama industry, now banned, to be replaced by a TV hagiography on guess who – Hun Sen .
- Thai companies organizing tours to Cambodia.
- Internet service providers.
- Thai hotels in Phnom Penh, among others.
Impacts on Cambodia
On the Cambodian side, impacts include:
- A reduction in Thai tourists, which in 2024 was the largest group of foreign tourists to the kingdom with 2.1 million Thai tourists visited Cambodia last year, in 2024, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism itself. This is followed by at very distant second of 1.3 million tourists from Vietnam and 848,000+ Chinese tourists.
- The potential impact on approximately 500,000 Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand if they are forced to return to Cambodia, as suggested by Hun Sen, among other issues.
This is a lose-lose, not a win-win, scenario for both countries. However, the ultranationalists on both sides are indifferent, as “blood is in their eyes,” as we would say in Thai language, leading to an exchange of blows and utter chaos at present.
Domestic Political Factors
Furthermore, domestic political factors in both Thailand and Cambodia do not favour a compromise.
On the Thai side, anti-Thaksin groups are seizing this opportunity to attack Thaksin and his daughter’s government due to the excessively close relationship between the Hun Sen family and the Shinawatra family. There is an attempt to make the government fail and collapse, or even to call for the Thai military to seize power.
NIDA Poll on Sunday reveals survey results showing public trust in the Royal Thai Army to protect national interests in the Thai-Cambodian conflict.
The Poll research center of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), released the results of a survey titled “Thailand Loves Peace, But Is Not Afraid to Fight.” The survey was conducted between June 9-11, involving a total of 1,310 samples of people aged 18 and above, distributed across all regions, education levels, occupations, and incomes nationwide.
The survey focused on trust and satisfaction with the roles of various sectors in resolving the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
When asked about the level of trust in various sectors to protect national interests in the case of the Thai-Cambodian conflict, the survey found:
- The Army: 62.52% of respondents stated they had very high trust, followed by 23.74% who had quite high trust, 8.85% who had not much trust, and 4.89% who had no trust at all.
- The Thai Government: 37.48% of respondents stated they had no trust at all, followed by 31.68% who had not much trust, 18.85% who had quite high trust, and 11.99% who had very high trust.
And guess what? The Commander of the 2nd Army Region Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang who is known for his tough words about the Thai army ready for battle has emerged as a “hero”, or at least a popular figure among ultranationalist Thais.
On Saturday, Boonsin declared:”This is my land. If you want it, let’s duel.”
The fact that many Thais do not trust the current Thai government compels the government led by Paetongtarn to play a hardline role against Cambodia, making it more difficult for both sides to deescalate and find a resolution (e.g., closing border checkpoints, cutting off electricity power and the internet).
On the Cambodian side, the leaders must also perform, demonstrating that Cambodia is sovereign, not afraid of a larger nation, and has no collusions with the Shinawatra family.
That’s not all, however.
Deep-seated Hatred and Toxicity on Social Media.
While the previous two factors are already severe, there is also the factor of long-standing hatred and mutual contempt, which is highly toxic on social media. This animosity is constantly reproduced and disseminated by the so-called “keyboard warriors” from both nations, sitting in their air-conditioned rooms and perpetuating hatred against one another.
They cling to a very narrow understanding of history and culture. This includes contentious issues such as:
- Whether Muay Thai originally came from Khmer boxing.
- Whether border temples were originally built by Khmers and belong to Cambodia.
- Whether Angkor Wat should belong to Thailand.
- Whether Khmer people really built Angkor Wat.
- Whether the Thai language was copied from Khmer, including some royal vocabulary.
- Whether Thai numerals are copied from Khmer numerals are similar.
- Calling Thailand “Thief Land” (country of thieves).
- Calling Cambodia “Claimnodia” because Cambodians tend to (sometimes falsely) claim everything as originally their own.
- Thailand once hosting Khmer refugees from the Khmer Rouge era, “but today, they are ungrateful.”
- Claims that since eastern and central Thailand in the past was part of the Angkorian Empire, it should be a part of Cambodia now.
- Accusations of Thai architecture copying Khmer. Accusations of Khmer copying Khon masked dance and Muay Thai, Khmer copying Thai female traditional attire, or vice versa, etc.
A Troubled History
Let’s not forget, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is the only Thai embassy in the world that has been set on fire by a foreign mob, in 2003.
Some Thais still see Angkor Wat as essentially Thai if not for France’s colonial foray into Cochin China before it took Cambodia from Siam’s control as its protectorate. Angkor Wat, meanwhile, os situated in Cambidia’s Seam Reap province, which in Khmer means the province where the Siamese were defeated. It invokes the failed attempt by Siam that make Angkor Wat a part of Thailand today. (The last attempt was during the Second World War when Thailand enlisted the help of Imperial Japan to “retake” Siem Reap, lasting 5 years, from 1941 to 1946, during Franco-Thai war.
Thais also see the map drawn by the French demarcating what became Thailand and Cambodia as essentially unfair and under duress, that’s why the Thai government insists it will not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Cambodians meanwhile see Thailand as their historical agressors, therefore the won’t budge in this present conflict with such a deep historical root.
In the end, it can be said that the Thai-Cambodian relationship, which officially reaches its 75th year of diplomatic ties this year—and in reality, has a much longer shared history—is the most toxic relationship Thailand has with any foreign country.
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