Country’s leader warns violence could ‘escalate into war’, as diplomatic crisis with Cambodia intensifies
Fighting has erupted along a disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in at least 30 deaths and the displacement of more than 130,000 civilians.
Thailand conducted airstrikes on Cambodian positions, while Cambodia launched rockets and artillery at Thai targets.
Relations between the neighbours have deteriorated since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Thai forces. In June, Cambodian leader Hun Sen leaked a phone conversation with Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra regarding the border dispute. The leak led to her suspension and sparked a worsening diplomatic crisis.
Thailand and Cambodia share a 508-mile land border, significant portions of which remain non-demarcated and subject to dispute. The violence could “escalate into a state of war,” according to the acting Thai prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai.
Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet wants the United Nations security council to convene an urgent meeting to address the border clashes, and China has called for a peaceful resolution.
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The Cambodian leader, Hun Sen, seated, assesses military options with colleagues
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Photographs by Sunny Chittawil/AP; Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP; STR/AFP/Getty Images; Phal Lim/Xinhua News Agency/eyevine; Valeria Mongelli/Anadolu/Getty Images; Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP; EPN/Newscom/Avalon
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