Colonial‑era maps and temple disputes complicate current crisis
The current Cambodia‑Thailand border standoff is rooted in colonial‑era boundary ambiguities dating to a 1907 French‑drawn map, compounded by longstanding disputes over the Preah Vihear temple, which was awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013.
Despite periodic military confrontations, including deadly skirmishes in 2008–2011 and the latest clash on May 28, both nations are now attempting to avoid escalation.
Cambodia is appealing to the ICJ, while Thailand remains committed to bilateral mechanisms under a 2000 agreement, setting the stage for another high‑stakes diplomatic showdown.