A ceasefire has been in place along the Thai-Cambodian border for three weeks, but despite the absence of gunfire, both countries continue to engage in a heated exchange of accusations. The conflict gained momentum following a Cambodian rocket attack on July 24, 2023, which prompted a response from Thailand including airstrikes.
In the current war of words, many in Thailand feel their country is losing the public relations battle. Analysts suggest that Cambodia has been more effective in leveraging media to rally international support. In contrast, Thailand’s responses have often been seen as disjointed and lacking coordinated messaging.
Both nations have made claims that have been later discredited. For instance, Cambodia alleged the shooting down of a Thai F16 fighter jet, yet the image shared turned out to be from Ukraine. Conversely, Thailand made allegations of Cambodian forces using poison gas, which were linked to unrelated incidents in California.
The political landscape in Thailand is complicated by tensions between the elected government, led by the Pheu Thai Party, and the military. A leaked conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen further strained relations, leading to her suspension by the constitutional court.
Hun Sen, who has a strong grip on power despite recently transferring leadership to his son, has actively utilized social media to challenge Thai narratives. Both countries have sought to frame the dispute with a narrative of victimhood, complicating any resolution efforts.
While Thailand prefers to address the border conflict through bilateral channels, Cambodia has sought international intervention, presenting the dispute to the UN Security Council and the International Court of Justice. This has led to a diplomatic impasse, with both nations wary of historical grievances and sensitive national identities that make concession politically unfeasible.
Recent allegations have emerged, with Thailand claiming that new landmines have been laid by Cambodian forces, leading to injuries among Thai soldiers. Cambodia denied these claims, arguing that any mines present were those left from its past conflicts. The ongoing accusations from both sides have effectively stalled any progress towards resolving the border dispute.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrx53zeg4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss