Historically, the Khmer Empire was a major power in Southeast Asia, controlling a large area, including Thailand and Vietnam. As the Khmer Empire declined, the growing Siamese kingdom expanded its influence and control over the western and northern regions.
- In 1431: Thai forces from the Kingdom of Ayutthaya captured the Khmer capital, Angkor Thom, forcing the Khmer king to move south.
- 18th–19th centuries: Cambodia became a vassal state caught in a power struggle between its two powerful neighbors, Siam and Vietnam. To avoid a complete conquest of Cambodia by both countries, the Khmer King Norodom requested French protection in 1863, which led to the establishment of a French protectorate in Cambodia.
Most of the Cambodian–Thai conflict stemmed from maps drawn during the French colonial period (particularly the 1904 and 1907 treaties). Cambodia accepted these maps, while Thailand disputed their historical accuracy, as the French-drawn maps were not recognized by Thailand, which unilaterally adopted its own maps, which led to many flashpoints.
Major disputed areas include:
- Preah Vihear Temple: An ancient Khmer temple located on the edge of a cliff. In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the temple and the land on which it stands belong to Cambodia. In 2013, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) further stated that the entire ravine surrounding the temple is Cambodian territory.
- Other border areas: Conflicts have erupted regularly over other land and sea areas, including recent clashes reported in 2025 near Ta Moan Thom Temple and other border villages in Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey.
- Differing views
- Cambodian view: Many Cambodians view the historical expansion of Siamese territory and culture as a theft of Cambodian land and ancestral culture. Cambodia points to specific maps and ICJ rulings as evidence of Cambodian sovereignty over the disputed areas.
- Thai view: Thailand claims that the Thai map is Thai, drawn by Thailand and unilaterally recognized by Thailand, and that the current borders are internationally recognized. They may perceive that stealing Cambodian territory is a form of Thai nationalism, and that Thailand wants to expand its territory like their ancestors did. That is why all Cambodian people will remember in history that Thailand is the thief of Cambodian territory.
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Article from "Stanford Program on International and Cross-Culture Education"
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