On May 28, 2025, a brief armed conflict erupted between Cambodia and Thailand in the disputed border area between the two countries, lasting about 10 minutes and resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier, further straining the already sensitive border relations. As tensions escalated, both sides recently adopted reciprocal entry policies, limiting each other's citizens' stay to no more than 7 days.
The spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorn Det, stated on June 9 that Cambodia had reduced the stay limit for Thai tourists to 7 days, and Thailand had also adjusted its entry policy for Cambodian citizens accordingly, suspending the previous convenience of staying for 30 to 60 days. According to the Khmer Times, the Cambodian Immigration Department pointed out that Thailand's unilateral measures pose obstacles to civilian exchanges between the two countries, prompting Cambodia to take reciprocal countermeasures to protect its national interests.
In fact, on July 15, 2024, Thailand had announced a visa exemption policy for tourists from several countries, including Cambodia, allowing a maximum stay of 60 days, mainly targeting tourists and short-term business visitors. The current tightening of border policies shows that the tension between the two countries has spread from the military to civilian mobility.
To prevent further deterioration of the situation, high-level officials from Thailand and Cambodia have initiated de-escalation efforts. The Prime Minister of Thailand, Pe Tong Tan, stated on June 8 that the two sides had reached a preliminary consensus on the redeployment of frontline troops, adjusting troop deployments to avoid new conflicts. She posted on social media: "Creating a cooperative atmosphere for the joint border committee meeting on June 14 is crucial. The military forces of both countries are maintaining close communication to repair bilateral relations."
The Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate, Hun Sen, also spoke on the same day, calling for the redeployment of military forces to prevent local conflicts from escalating. He noted that the people of Cambodia and Thailand both desire peace and stability, "unwilling to endure the suffering brought by war again."
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Thailand, Pu Tan, added that the armies of both sides had adjusted their deployments according to last year's agreement, leading to a more relaxed border situation. He emphasized that multi-level communication mechanisms are key to avoiding conflicts, "with the current focus on maintaining stability and managing differences."
Although Thailand and Cambodia currently show a certain willingness to restrain and are simultaneously de-escalating through diplomatic and military channels, the complexity of the border dispute still makes the situation difficult to be optimistic about. Whether the upcoming border committee meeting can promote a substantive solution remains key to the direction of the regional situation.
