Clearly a significant number of territorial squabbles exist simply to provide a jingoistic distraction, an excuse to rally around the flag or challenge the patriotism of a political rival. And while they can flare up organically, prolonged skirmishes are typically stoked with a clear purpose.
Which is why policy analysts are scratching their heads about what exactly lies behind the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. On Thursday, fighting erupted again near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple, located in a border area in northwestern Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and a soldier in Thailand, which dispatched a F-16 to bomb Cambodian targets in response.
00:00The tension between Thailand and Cambodia has long historical roots, right back to a 1907 map drawn up when Cambodia was under French colonial rule.
00:09The Cambodians use it to delineate the land border. The Thais say it's inaccurate, so most frontier confrontations ever since have stemmed from that fundamental problem.
00:21This current crisis began brewing in February when a group of Cambodians went to disputed territory and sang a patriotic song.
00:30Well, that ended peacefully, but in May in another area, troops from both sides opened fire at each other and one Cambodian soldier was killed.
00:39The tension ratcheted up and despite saying they were working to de-escalate, things never really relaxed.
00:46Thailand tightened restrictions on border crossings. Cambodia stopped imports of some Thai goods.
00:53Political moves to find a solution went badly, increasing the ill feeling.
00:58Then, in the last week or so, two identical incidents brought the situation to breaking point.
01:04A number of Thai soldiers were injured by landmines while on patrol in contested territory.
01:10Thailand said the mines were newly laid by Cambodian forces.
01:14Cambodia called the accusations baseless. Nationalist feelings surged.
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