Thai-Cambodian Conflict Threatens Asian Stability by Design

"Major hostilities erupted once again in early to mid-December in Southeast Asia along the borders of Thailand and Cambodia following a troubled “ceasefire” that included incidents and provocations for months since the last round of major fighting took place in July 2025. Despite any resulting ceasefire, the fundamental issues driving the conflict remain entirely unresolved, primarily because these issues stem from foreign interests using regional conflict to complicate both Asia’s rise in general and China’s rise specifically." References: Nation - Second Army Area suspects English-speaking foreigners flying suicide drones for Cambodian troops (Dec. 11, 2025): https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40059596 Reuters - Ukrainian operatives aided Syrian rebels with drones, Washington Post reports (Dec. 2024): https://www.reuters.com/world/ukrainian-operatives-aided-syrian-rebels-with-drones-washington-post-reports-2024-12-11/ Nation - Three leaders’ statements diverge: US, Thai and Cambodian tones don’t match (Dec. 13, 2025): https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40059705 RAND Corporation - Extending Russia (2019): https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR3000/RR3063/RAND_RR3063.pdf Reagan Presidential Foundation - Fireside Chat with General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Dec. 7, 2025): https://youtu.be/63FtvUJi_6I?si=i_6NMrmxdPacCny1&t=622 Irrawaddy - China-Backed Pipeline Facility Damaged in Myanmar Resistance Attack (2022): https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/china-backed-pipeline-facility-damaged-in-myanmar-resistance-attack.html Naval War College Review - A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China (2018): https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1735&context=nwc-review CSIS - How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea?: https://chinapower.csis.org/much-trade-transits-south-china-sea/ NEO - US Sows Chaos Across Asia as it Aims for China (Sep. 2025): https://journal-neo.su/2025/09/30/269887/ Bloomberg - Thailand Needs Hyperloop, Not China-Built High-Speed Rail, Junta Critic Says (2018): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-01/junta-critic-says-thailand-needs-hyperloop-not-china-built-rail Move Forward Party - Hyperloop Presentation (2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmXcXpM7aaQ&t=41s iLaw - About: https://www.ilaw.or.th/en/about-us Harvard Atlas of Economic Complexity (Thailand): https://atlas.hks.harvard.edu/explore/treemap?year=2023&exporter=country-764&view=markets&importer=group-1 China MFA - President Xi Jinping Meets with King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand (Nov. 2025): https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/zyxw/202511/t20251114_11753596.html China MFA - Wang Yi Meets with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand (Apr. 2025): https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202504/t20250414_11594100.html New Atlas - The Complete Guide: US Government Role in Thailand's "Student Protests" (2020): https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-complete-guide-us-government-role.html Harvard AEC (Cambodia): https://atlas.hks.harvard.edu/explore/treemap?year=2023&exporter=country-116&view=markets&importer=group-1 Phnom Penh Post - The dominance of the dollar in Cambodia: Causes, effects, solutions (Jan. 2025): https://www.phnompenhpost.com/opinion/the-dominance-of-the-dollar-in-cambodia-causes-effects-solutions AP - Cambodian leader’s son, a West Point grad, set to take reins of power — but will he bring change? (2023): https://apnews.com/article/cambodia-elections-hun-manet-aa2ea5d50d3a89eab7a16c34f7ddfe69 CBS News - U.S. warship docks in Cambodia, a top Chinese ally, for first time in 8 years (Dec. 2024): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-warship-docks-cambodia-china-ally-first-time-years/ Diplomat - US Defense Secretary to Visit China-Linked Cambodian Naval Base (Jun. 2025): https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/us-defense-secretary-to-visit-china-linked-cambodian-naval-base/ Thai PBS - ‘Angkor Sentinel’ military exercises to return as US-Cambodia links thaw (Nov. 2025): https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/angkor-sentinel-military-exercises-to-return-as-uscambodia-links-thaw/59389 US PACOM - Royal Cambodian Armed Forces delegation visits USINDOPACOM for Bilateral Defense Dialogue (Jul. 2025): https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4257748/royal-cambodian-armed-forces-delegation-visits-usindopacom-for-bilateral-defens/ Where to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailand Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerletic Rumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863 How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlas Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyer PromptPay: 0851547235