00:00I think I can do it pretty quickly. I think we're scheduling a phone call tomorrow.
00:14For more than a century, the border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a fault line.
00:21Quiet at times, but always capable of shaking loose into conflict.
00:26In December, those simmering tensions boiled over once again, shattering a fragile peace deal and leaving soldiers and civilians dead on both sides.
00:39The roots of this conflict stretch back to the early 1900s, when French colonial authorities helped draw the borders of what is now Cambodia.
00:49Those lines left behind pockets of disputed land, none more emotive than the area surrounding an 11th century Hindu temple, which Cambodia attempted to register as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
01:06Thailand objected fiercely. Protests erupted, relations soured, and sporadic clashes began.
01:15Over the next decade and a half, bursts of gunfire and rocket attacks became grim signatures of another unresolved territorial feud.
01:25By the time December arrived, the ceasefire brokered in July, with help from US President Donald Trump and Malaysia, was already fragile.
01:37Skirmishers in May had killed a Cambodian soldier, and both sides had quietly increased troop numbers along the border.
01:45Then came Monday, 8 December, Thailand said Cambodian forces fired first into Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province, killing a Thai soldier.
01:59Cambodia insisted the opposite, that Thai units attacked a position in Praia Vihar province, and that they did not return fire.
02:08What followed shattered any ambiguity.
02:12Thailand launched airstrikes. Cambodia accused Thailand of firing into civilian areas.
02:19The next day, Thailand said Cambodia used rockets and kamikaze drones, with some munitions landing near Thai civilians.
02:29Thailand responded with more airstrikes.
02:31By week's end, at least five Thai soldiers and seven Cambodian civilians were dead.
02:39Just months earlier, in July, a similar clash spiralled quickly out of control.
02:46Both sides exchanged heavy fire.
02:49Thailand accused Cambodia of launching rockets.
02:52Cambodia accused Thailand of provoking the fight.
02:56Nearly 50 people died, and thousands fled their homes.
03:00Only then did Trump step in, eventually guiding both leaders towards what he called the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord.
03:10Thailand refused to use that name, preferring a more formal and less symbolic title.
03:16But both sides agreed to withdraw heavy weapons and welcome international observers.
03:22For a moment, it seemed a path to peace had been found.
03:26In November, Thailand abruptly paused the agreement.
03:30Prime Minister Anutin Chan Virukul said the security threat has not actually decreased,
03:37raising doubts about further troop withdrawals or prisoner releases.
03:42When December's fighting erupted, Thailand declared the ceasefire not working.
03:48Cambodia insisted it had only returned fire to respect the ceasefire.
03:53Trump urged both sides to uphold the agreement.
03:57But influence alone can't cool a border that has burnt for decades.
04:02I think I can do it pretty quickly.
04:04I think we're scheduling a phone call tomorrow.
04:07Mr. President?
04:09With Thailand.
04:09On the bench, Eric.
04:10With Thailand, if you, you know, just to answer, Steve.
04:14With Thailand and Cambodia, I think, I think I can get them to stop fighting.
04:21Who else can do that?
04:24Think of it.
04:25So late wars.
04:27Every once in a while, one will flame up again.
04:29I have to put out that little flame.
04:31I have to put it out, but we're going to put it out again.
04:33So I think I'm scheduled to speak to them tomorrow and see if I can.
04:36And it was unfortunate what happened.
04:40I mean, I know exactly what happened.
04:41It got it started a little bit, but we'll see if we can put it out.
04:47In the past, even severe flare-ups were contained quickly.
04:51But diplomats watching this crisis warn that political leadership in both countries may be too weak or too unwilling to pull back.
05:01For now, the situation feels as volatile as the disputed ground itself.
05:08Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries continues.
05:12But along the border, uncertainty hangs over every village, every patrol and every fragile hour of quiet.
05:31Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak or too weak or too weak or too weak.
05:34Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak or too weak.
05:35Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak or too weak.
05:37Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:39Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak or too weak.
05:41Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:42Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:43Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:44Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:46Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
05:47Far from the front lines, daily life in both countries may be too weak.
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