Cambodia accuses Thailand of escalating tensions with new border crossing rules

Published on 24/06/2025 - 20:46 GMT+2

Cambodia's authorities accused Thailand of escalating separator tensions connected Tuesday by imposing new restrictions that person blocked almost each onshore crossings, particularly for visitors heading into Cambodia.

Relations betwixt nan 2 neighbours person deteriorated pursuing an equipped confrontation connected 28 May successful which 1 Cambodian worker was killed successful a small, contested territory on their border.

While nan 2 sides have agreed to de-escalate, they person continued to instrumentality aliases frighten measures that person kept tensions high.

The Thai service connected Monday imposed heightened restrictions astatine separator checkpoints pinch Cambodia pursuing an bid from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to let only students, aesculapian patients and others pinch basal needs to participate aliases time off Thailand.

That besides makes it intolerable for thousands of visitors to transverse betwixt nan 2 countries.

Pen Bona, a spokesperson of nan Cambodian government, said connected Tuesday that Cambodia has committed to resoluteness nan conflict done negotiated channels, but tensions person soared because of Thailand's actions.

"The Cambodian authorities has already stated that we will not initiate immoderate separator closure," and that it will besides assistance restrictions if Thailand does truthful first, he said.

Cambodia has boycotted immoderate Thai net services, banned Thai fruits and vegetables and blocked energy and substance supplies from Thailand successful consequence to nan separator dispute.

Prior to nan boycott, Cambodia imported 30% of its gasoline and different substance from Thailand.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet connected Monday visited troops astatine nan separator and a impermanent shelter for thousands of civilians who were evacuated from nan area.

He said that while Cambodia doesn’t want war, "we cannot guidelines by and fto america beryllium abused."

In summation to separator restrictions, Paetongtarn besides announced measures targeting online scam operations successful Cambodia.

They see blocking exports that could facilitate specified activities successful Cambodia and coordination pinch different countries and world agencies to ace down connected cybercrime based successful Southeast Asia.

Pen Bona said that while he recognised that Cambodia "is being exploited by online scammers," galore specified operations are besides based successful Thailand.

"This is simply a very shameful point that is happening successful Thailand, but they are trying to divert nan communicative from Thailand to Cambodia," he said.

Earlier this year, Thailand implemented measures to ace down connected online scam operations successful neighbouring Myanmar, severing electricity, net and state supplies to separator towns wherever nan syndicates were based.