New Advisory for Australian Travelers Due to Escalating Thailand-Cambodia Tensions

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Australia is “deeply concerned” by escalating tensions across the Thai-Cambodian border, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, as she urged travellers to reconsider visiting certain areas.

A Thai F-16 fighter jet has bombed targets in Cambodia, after artillery fire from both sides killed at least 11 civilians.

“Australia is deeply concerned by escalating tensions across the Thai-Cambodian border, including reports of injuries and loss of life,” Wong said on X on Friday.

“We urge both sides to de-escalate and resolve border issues peacefully.”

Travel advice for Thailand and Cambodia

As of Friday, Smartraveller advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the Thai border areas of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces near the Cambodian border due to armed conflict in the area.

This includes “reports of military strikes, violence and landmines”, the advice says.

“Follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media for updates and pay close attention to your personal security. Border crossing points along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to be closed at short notice.”

Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Thailand overall.

In Cambodia, Australians are urged to reconsider travelling to the border areas of the northern and north-western provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey, while exercising normal safety precautions overall.

Border clashes: What we know so far

Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations along the border.

Thailand positioned six F-16 fighter jets in an uncommon combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target — among measures Cambodia’s foreign ministry called “reckless and brutal military aggression”.

Thailand’s military said the use of air power was to strike with precision.

Thailand said there had been 12 fatalities in three Thai provinces, 11 of them civilians, including an eight-year-old boy. Authorities said 31 people were injured on Thursday.

The number of Cambodian casualties was unclear.

People sitting on the ground, inside a makeshift shelter.

Thai people who fled clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers taking shelter in Surin province in north-eastern Thailand. Source: AAP / AP/Sunny Chittawil

“We condemn this — using heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones … the use of force and did not adhere to international law,” Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters.

“We remain committed to peaceful means and there should be discussions, but what happened was a provocation and we had to defend ourselves.”

In a letter to Pakistan, which currently holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the body to convene a meeting to stop what he called “unprovoked and premeditated military aggression” by Thailand in violation of international law.

The two countries have been braced for conflict since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish, with troops reinforced on both sides of the border.

The recent escalation — the worst fighting between the countries in 13 years — came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia’s envoy. This was in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops in the disputed area — an accusation Cambodia called baseless.

A decades-long border dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have for decades disputed the jurisdiction of several undemarcated points along their 817km land border.

Ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the Preah Vihear have been central to the disputes.

A large building that reads "Royal Thai Embassy".

The clashes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia’s envoy in Bangkok. Source: AAP / EPA/Kith Serey

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 but tensions escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths.

In June, Cambodia said it had asked the ICJ to resolve its disputes with Thailand. However, Thailand says it has never recognised the court’s jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach.

How other countries have responded

In the region, the Philippines and Vietnam have called for restraint and China expressed willingness to help promote de-escalation.

The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities.

“We are … gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians,” the US state department’s deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing.

“The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

With additional reporting by the Reuters news agency.