Renewed Border Clashes Erupt Between Thailand and Cambodia, Threatening Fragile Peace Accord

Fresh hostilities have erupted along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border, with the Thai military reportedly opening fire on Cambodian forces early Monday morning, December 8, 2025. The incident, which began around 05:04 AM, involved the use of multiple tanks in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province and at Ta Moan Thom temple, according to a report from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com.

This latest confrontation follows a series of provocative actions by the Thai military, despite a peace agreement signed just two months prior in October 2025. Cambodia has swiftly notified the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and issued a call for strong international condemnation of Thailand's actions, as reported by vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com.

Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata stated that Thai forces launched attacks on Cambodian troops in the An Ses area and near Ta Moan Thom temple, subsequently firing multiple shots with tanks. Socheata emphasized that Cambodia maintained maximum restraint and did not return fire during these assaults, according to the Khmer Times.

Conversely, Thai authorities presented a different account, with the Royal Thai Army claiming Cambodian artillery units fired into Thai territory, resulting in one Thai soldier killed and four wounded. In response, Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to strike Cambodian military targets, as reported by CNA and The Japan Times.

The escalation has prompted significant concern, particularly given the recent Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed on October 26, 2025, which aimed to solidify a ceasefire brokered in July. The accord, witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, committed both nations to peaceful dispute resolution, according to The White House.

However, Thailand had temporarily suspended this peace accord on November 11, 2025, following a landmine incident that injured Thai soldiers, accusing Cambodia of placing new landmines. This suspension signaled a weakening of the fragile truce, as noted by East Asia Forum.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense has strongly condemned Thailand's actions, viewing them as a clear violation of the October 2025 Joint Statement on the Cambodia-Thailand Peace Agreement. Cambodia urges Thailand to immediately cease all hostilities that threaten regional peace and stability, according to the Khmer Times.

• Historical Roots of the Conflict: The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is deeply entrenched, originating from ambiguous boundary demarcations established by Franco-Siamese treaties in 1904 and 1907. These treaties, which defined the border between Siam (Thailand) and French Indochina (including Cambodia), led to overlapping claims over various areas, particularly around ancient Khmer temples like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom, as detailed by Wikipedia.

• Preah Vihear Temple Dispute: The 11th-century Preah Vihear temple has been a central point of contention. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia, a decision reaffirmed in 2013 to include the promontory on which it stands. Despite these rulings, the surrounding border areas have remained largely undemarcated, fueling ongoing tensions and military clashes, according to un News and Stanford's FSI.

• Escalation in 2025: The current crisis intensified significantly in May 2025 with a skirmish near Preah Vihear, leading to a five-day war in July that resulted in dozens of casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands. This period of intense fighting necessitated international mediation, culminating in a ceasefire and the subsequent Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, as reported by britannica and The Japan Times.

• Role of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT): The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) was established as a crucial component of the October 2025 peace agreement, tasked with monitoring the ceasefire, verifying compliance, and investigating incidents along the border. Cambodia's notification of the AOT underscores its reliance on regional mechanisms for de-escalation and impartial assessment, according to abs-cbn News and Asia News Network.

• Impact on Civilians and Regional Stability: The renewed fighting has immediate humanitarian consequences, with Thai authorities ordering the evacuation of over 385,000 civilians from border areas and Cambodian authorities closing 42 schools in Banteay Meanchey province. This instability poses a significant threat to regional peace and could undermine ASEAN's efforts to foster cooperation and development, as highlighted by The Japan Times and Cambodianess.

• Calls for International Accountability: Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, has urged the international community to scrutinize Thailand's actions, suggesting they reflect a decades-long pattern of human rights violations. His remarks, reported by Kampuchea Thmey Daily, emphasize the need for global attention and accountability to prevent further abuses and ensure a lasting resolution to the protracted conflict.