Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day yesterday, as a border conflict that killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the frontier.
Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries’ coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, about 250km southwest of the main front lines thumping with blasts yesterday afternoon.
“It feels like I’m escaping a war zone,” 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai told reporters at a temple shelter for evacuees in Kanthararom, Thailand, after abandoning his farm near the embattled frontier.
Photo: AFP
Both sides said they are open to a truce in the combat being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining armistice efforts.
Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites, before fighting spread along the countries’ rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said that 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.
Thai authorities said 13 civilians and seven soldiers have been killed on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.
Both sides reported a coastline clash at about 5am yesterday, with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing “five heavy artillery shells” into Cambodia’s Pursat Province.
The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, and more than 35,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
After an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday, Cambodian Ambassador to the UN Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire.
“Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” he said.
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa yesterday said that for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show “genuine sincerity in ending the conflict.”
“I urge Cambodia to stop violating Thai sovereignty and to return to resolving the issue through bilateral dialogue,” Maris said.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Nikorndej Balankura on Friday said that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.
Malaysia holds the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.
Both sides have blamed the other for firing first.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions
RSS