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Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai says Thailand reinforces navy presence in response to Cambodia transfer.
Thailand has strengthened its navy presence alongside a disputed border with Cambodia following a rise in troops on the opposite aspect, the Thai defence minister has mentioned.
Tensions between the 2 Southeast Asian international locations have been rising since a Cambodian soldier was killed on Could 28 in a quick skirmish in an undemarcated border space.
Because the incident, the 2 governments have been exchanging fastidiously worded statements committing to dialogue.
Thailand’s Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who additionally serves as deputy prime minister, mentioned on Saturday that Cambodia had rejected proposals in bilateral talks held on Thursday that might have led to a de-escalation.
“Moreover, there was a reinforcement of navy presence, which has exacerbated tensions alongside the border,” Phumtham mentioned in an announcement.
“Consequently, the Royal Thai Authorities has deemed it essential to implement extra measures and to bolster our navy posture accordingly.”
He didn’t present additional particulars on the extent of reinforcements by both aspect.
There was no rapid remark from Cambodia.
In a separate assertion on Saturday, the Thai military mentioned Cambodian civilians had additionally repeatedly made incursions into Thailand’s territory.
“These provocations, and the buildup of navy forces, point out a transparent intent to make use of drive,” the Thai military mentioned, including it will take management of all Thai checkpoints alongside the Cambodia border.
Thailand and Cambodia have for greater than a century contested sovereignty at numerous undemarcated factors alongside their 817km (508-mile) land border.
Pressure escalated in 2008 over an Eleventh-century Hindu temple, resulting in skirmishes over a number of years and no less than a dozen deaths, together with throughout a weeklong change of artillery fireplace in 2011.
On Monday, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet mentioned the federal government would file a grievance with the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute.
“Cambodia hopes that the Thai aspect will agree with Cambodia to collectively carry these points to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice… to forestall armed confrontation once more over border uncertainty,” Hun Manet mentioned throughout a gathering between MPs and senators.
Thailand has not recognised the ICJ’s jurisdiction since 1960 and has as a substitute known as for bilateral talks.
Efforts have been made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who’s the present chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to scale back tensions, however the border stays disputed.
A gathering of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Fee – which addresses border demarcation points – is scheduled for June 14.
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