01/08/2025
Opinion on the Cambodia-Thailand border clash: Ceasefire Holds but People Forget the Propaganda and Turn Against One Another
Amie Chan, Communications Advisor
The ceasefire, implemented from midnight on Monday (CNN), brought a momentary sigh of relief after days of deadly clashes along their shared border. But as the dust begins to settle, the deeper causes, consequences and narratives around the conflict deserve closer scrutiny, particularly those shaped by media bias, nationalism and unresolved trauma.
This was meant to end the cross border fighting that left 38 people dead (22 civilians) and displaced nearly 300,000 people in both countries. When it comes to damage, Thailand estimates losses of over USD 397 million. But another report from CNBC argues that Cambodia’s economy, more fragile and dependent on border trade, stands to suffer more.
But within hours, Thailand’s military accused Cambodia of violating the agreement “in several places”, calling it a deliberate attempt to destroy trust. Cambodia’s defence ministry rejected the allegations, maintaining that its forces had strictly followed the terms of the agreement (The Guardian). Nearly eight hours after the ceasefire came into effect, 20 Cambodian soldiers were reportedly captured by Thailand, prompting Cambodia to call for their immediate return (CNA).
This immediate breakdown of the ceasefire highlights the deep mistrust between the two nations. But the conflict is not only being fought on the battlefield. It is also playing out in the media, which is far from neutral, fuelling public outrage and turning nationalism into racism on both sides.
Read more: https://www.cid.org.nz/connect/news/opinion-cambodia-thailand-ceasefire-holds/
Photo: Cambodian migrant workers cross the border at Ban Laem Border checkpoint to return to Cambodia from Thailand, July 28, 2025. (Andre Malerba/Reuters)
