Countries with weak historical foundations often rely on nationalism to construct their identity, claiming traditions as their own and even challenging older civilisations. This is exactly what we see with Thailand. Cambodia, by contrast, has a long and continuous history stretching back to the Funan period, through the Chenla era, and flourishing during the Angkorian civilisation. Its culture, architecture, performing arts, religious rituals and art has been preserved, documented and continuously practiced, leaving no doubt about its authenticity. Many elements that Thailand now claims as their national heritage, such as traditional attire like the Sbai, classical performances resembling Apsara dance,…
Author: Guest Writer
The recent unanimous recommendation by a Thai Senate special committee to cancel the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 2543) with Cambodia is more than a bilateral diplomatic rupture. Viewed through a strictly legal lens, the move represents a concerning case study in how domestic geopolitics can be engineered to subvert established international law, threatening the very foundations of the rules-based order in Southeast Asia. The committee justifies its recommendation for unilateral withdrawal by citing “flawed maps”, constitutional conflicts and alleged non-compliance. However, an independent legal examination of these claims reveals a systematic attempt to replace binding international jurisprudence with geopolitical…
The director of the Thailand Army’s Military Intelligence, Thiranan Nuntakhwang, issued curious statements about how the Thai army should remain vigilant against a renewed outbreak of hostilities by the Cambodian army over the next four to five months after the rainy season. His statements are curious because as the head of Thai intelligence, he knows better than anyone that Thai military forces are currently occupying and openly fortifying multiple positions in Cambodian territory. He also knows that the greatest apparent consequence of this military occupation has not been the destruction of any Cambodian military bases, but the displacement of Cambodian…
Imagine a masterpiece that has withstood a thousand years of monsoons, shifting empires and the relentless march of time, now fracturing under the sudden, brutal weight of artillery fire. The destruction of the Preah Vihear Temple is not merely a tragic consequence of armed conflict — it is a direct violation of international law and a devastating assault on the shared cultural heritage of humanity. Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona has recently disclosed alarming new findings that demand the immediate attention of the global community: the structural damage inflicted upon this UNESCO World Heritage site far…
History repeatedly warns humanity about the consequences of greed, mistrust and unchecked ambition. Wars do not appear suddenly; they grow slowly from suspicion, fear and the desire for power or control. When trust disappears between nations, dialogue weakens and hostility begins to take its place. Countries divide themselves into opposing blocs, each convinced that the other is a threat. Eventually, if wisdom does not prevail, these tensions escalate into conflict and war. Today the world stands at a dangerous crossroads. Several ongoing crises demonstrate how mistrust and geopolitical rivalry can destabilise entire regions. The war between Russia and Ukraine has…
The potential unilateral nullification of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (MoU 43) by Thailand is not merely a diplomatic rupture — it is a strategic inflection point with implications for regional stability. While such an act would likely constitute a serious breach of obligations under the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, legal correctness alone is not a strategy. Cambodia must be prepared. “Legal correctness alone will not protect Cambodia — strategic preparedness will”. If the MoU framework collapses, the consequences will extend beyond bilateral tensions: the erosion of border…
For half a century, the global economy operated under a simple, unwritten rule: if you wanted to keep the lights on, you needed US dollars. This “Petrodollar” system did more than price oil; it subsidised the American way of life and gave Washington a “financial “on-off switch” over the rest of the world. But as we sit in early 2026, that switch is losing its spark. The transition isn’t just about climate change; it is about the birth of a new “Electro-hegemony”. China’s strategy has been patient and physical. While the West focused on financial software — derivatives and debt…
Recently, the governor of Stung Treng province, Sar Soputra, stated, “Cambodia cannot completely prohibit imports from Thailand as we are members of the WTO and ASEAN”, and in response, the governor received criticism for his views. However, it would be unwise for Cambodia to take actions equivalent to the prohibition of the import of Thai goods. Cambodia’s geopolitical situation has always been complicated, difficult and fraught with danger, and today’s environment is no different. Cambodia must exercise discipline in its foreign relations, military posture, and equally so, its economic and trade policies. As I have stated in other editorial comments,…
The foundation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rests on a codified promise of shared prosperity and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) legally bind member states to renounce the use of force. Despite this, the devastating 2025–2026 border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia — marked by artillery exchanges, airstrikes and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians — has violently shattered this institutional illusion. This crisis exposes a sobering reality: ASEAN’s legal frameworks are structurally unequipped to restrain a regionally dominant member state…
The recent tragedy in Svay Chek district is not merely a localised accident; it is a textbook example of how tactical military decisions leave a lethal, multi-generational footprint. By examining the specific munitions involved, the socioeconomic fallout, and the gaps in international law, a much starker picture of the region’s post-conflict reality emerges. 1. Geopolitical Echoes of the Thai-Cambodian Border Clashes The identification of the M46 submunition from a 155mm NR269 artillery projectile provides a critical forensic link to specific historical hostilities. The 2011 Preah Vihear Clashes: During the severe border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia in 2011, the Cluster…