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The Thai warning came amid growing concern from the U.S. over the most serious fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbors in years. The United States and China are competing for influence in fast-growing Southeast Asia, with both having good relations with Thailand and Cambodia. However, China’s ties with Cambodia are particularly close, as the Cambodian government has granted Chinese naval access to a base near disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Thailand is a major non-NATO ally of the U.S., signifying a strategic working relationship between Washington and Bangkok.
On July 25, 2025, villagers fled their homes near the Thai border in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province. Fighting erupted for a second day on Friday at several points along the border, particularly around an ancient Khmer temple known as Ta Muen Thom. Phumtham told The Guardian that this incident of aggression is escalating and could develop to war, but they are still at the altercation level.
Firing began after a recent dispute over landmines escalated into exchanges of fire on July 24. On Thursday, the Thai military sent F-16 jets to bomb Cambodian positions, while Cambodian forces fired BM-21 multiple rocket launchers into Thailand. The U.N. Security Council planned an emergency meeting later that day in New York.
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Since Thursday, the Thai Health Ministry reported 15 civilians and one soldier killed, with 46 civilians and 15 soldiers wounded. Cambodia’s government has not provided casualty information. In Oddar Meanchey province, about 1,500 families had been moved to safety, with one villager killed.
Cambodia’s former prime minister, Hun Sen, denounced Thailand’s military aggression on the X platform, warning of suffering for his people. The U.S. and China expressed concern, urging an immediate cessation of attacks, protection of civilians, and peaceful dispute resolution.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is testing its ability to promote harmony and economic cooperation amid this conflict, with Malaysia as the chair country calling on rivals to stand down and resume talks.
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What was a significant factor contributing to the growing concern from the U.S. over the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in Oddar Meanchey province?
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