Posted on 30 July 2025
Amie Chan, Communications Advisor, CID
How did it start?
The fighting erupted after weeks of rising tensions, beginning in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border clash. Earlier in February, tensions flared over Prasat Ta Moan Thon, a Khmer temple near the border, when Thai police stopped Cambodian tourists from singing their national anthem there. While border disputes between the two countries are longstanding, tracing back to colonial-era boundaries drawn in 1907, this recent conflict is the most severe in over ten years. Previous skirmishes have occurred, but this is the first time fighter jets have been used, marking a serious escalation (Al Jazeera).
Ceasefire Holds but Conflict and Headlines Rage On
The ceasefire, implemented from midnight on Monday (CNN), brought a momentary sigh of relief after days of deadly clashes along their shared border. But as the dust begins to settle, the deeper causes, consequences and narratives around the conflict deserve closer scrutiny, particularly those shaped by media bias, nationalism and unresolved trauma.
This was meant to end the cross border fighting that left 38 people dead (22 civilians) and displaced nearly 300,000 people in both countries. When it comes to damage, Thailand estimates losses of over USD 397 million. But another report from CNBC argues that Cambodia’s economy, more fragile and dependent on border trade, stands to suffer more.
But within hours, Thailand’s military accused Cambodia of violating the agreement “in several places”, calling it a deliberate attempt to destroy trust. Cambodia’s defence ministry rejected the allegations, maintaining that its forces had strictly followed the terms of the agreement (The Guardian). Nearly eight hours after the ceasefire came into effect, 20 Cambodian soldiers were reportedly captured by Thailand, prompting Cambodia to call for their immediate return (CNA).
This immediate breakdown of the ceasefire highlights the deep mistrust between the two nations. But the conflict is not only being fought on the battlefield. It is also playing out in the media, which is far from neutral, fuelling public outrage and turning nationalism into racism on both sides.
Media Framing and Missing Voices
International reporting has largely leaned towards one side’s narrative often portraying Thailand’s perspective. While not always the result of deliberate bias this highlights an imbalance in the global information flow. Inside Cambodia, a lack of credible local reporting due to government restrictions on independent media has created a vacuum, making it difficult to counter these external narratives.
A few things that haven’t been covered in the international media include Cambodia’s claims that Thailand used chemical weapons and targeted cultural sites just before the ceasefire, which Cambodia says breaches international law. EOD specialists from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre reported identifying nine new sites of Thai aerial bombing between 24 and 28 July, including four bomb craters and five locations with unexploded munitions, all caused by MK-84 bombs dropped by the Thai air force.
The conflict has also triggered a surge in extreme nationalism that has turned racist on both sides, much of it fuelled by social media. Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand have reported experiencing abuse, discrimination and harassment in the aftermath of the clashes (BBC). Several Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand have faced discrimination since the conflict began. A Cambodian NGO operating in Thailand has reported around 16 incidents where Cambodian workers were assaulted by Thai youth gangs, according to RFA.
How Did We Get Here?
The military capacity between the two countries is far from equal. As Reuters reports, Thailand’s military is significantly larger and better equipped than Cambodia’s, with a defence budget more than four times the size. Cambodia, by comparison, is outmatched in both personnel and weaponry. This raises a critical question: why would Cambodia engage in a conflict it is unlikely to win?
To understand the origins of this conflict, I recommend this analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations. While border disputes over historical claims are nothing new, many observers point to domestic political struggles in Thailand as a major trigger. Power struggles between the Thai military and civilian leadership may have created the perfect storm for an external distraction.
What Now?
This is not about who won. This is about who suffers. It is time to look beyond flags and borders. It is time to listen, to hold the media accountable, to question the narratives, and to protect people, not propaganda.
Photo: Cambodian migrant workers cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint to return to Cambodia from Thailand, July 28, 2025. (Andre Malerba/Reuters)