Cambodia has rejected all newly built Thai structures in areas it says lie within its territory, following what it describes as illegal incursions after clashes in late December 2025.
In a statement issued on March 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thai armed forces had used heavy machinery to excavate land and build new concrete trenches in the southeastern area of Ta Moan Thom temple in Oddar Meanchey province.
The ministry also reported similar activities in several other locations. In the Mom Bei area of Preah Vihear province, near Phnom 469, Thai forces were said to have cleared land, built roads, and installed permanent structures, including a Buddhist statue.
Further construction was reported in Thma Don village in Banteay Ampil district, where roads and permanent facilities were built in the Damnak Sdach area. In the An Ses area of Preah Vihear, Thai forces were also accused of clearing land, constructing roads, and raising the Thai national flag.
According to the ministry, comparable activities have been observed at multiple sites, including near the An Ses international border gate, O Phka Sneh, Phnom 677, and Phnom 500, where Thai forces, together with Thai monks, reportedly erected Buddhist statues.
Additional construction was cited in the Ta Thav area of Preah Vihear, as well as around Don Tun temple, Phnom 505, Phnom 333, and the Ta Thav border crossing. Similar developments were reported in Ta Sim and Chak Chreng, along with other locations in both Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces.
Cambodia’s foreign ministry said these actions constitute further violations of Article 5 of the 2000 memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and Thailand on border demarcation, as well as commitments made in a joint statement by the General Border Committee in December 2025.
In recent weeks, Cambodian social media users have circulated images and reports alleging Thai military presence inside Cambodian territory, including claims that Thai forces had taken control of a Cambodian-owned fuel station in Pursat province.
Thai media outlet Thai Enquirer, citing army spokesperson Withai Laithomya, reported on March 17 that Thailand is moving ahead with a pilot project to build a permanent fence along parts of the Thai-Cambodian border.
The report said construction is expected to begin in early April 2026 and take around 45 days to complete. The initial phase would cover a stretch of approximately 1.3 kilometres between border markers 52 and 54, with both sides said to have coordinated on the project.
