PHNOM PENH: Cambodian defence officials have rebuked their Thai counterparts after they claimed that Cambodia is escalating its military capabilities. They described such accusations as unfounded and misleading.
The comments follow a Feb 8 article in Thai media outlet The Nation Thailand, in which Thai officials warned of a potential “third round” of border clashes, claiming a significant military build-up.
The report claimed that Cambodia has acquired advanced anti-aircraft weaponry to neutralise Thailand's historical air superiority in the region. It did not suggest where Cambodia may have purchased such capabilities, nor been trained to operate it.
Thai officials were cited by the media as saying that was a “concerning” escalation of military activity along the Cambodian border, especially after the Feb 8 Thai general election.
According to the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, Thailand employed all kinds of heavy weaponry during the previous rounds of fighting, including on the land, in the air and at sea.
Thai analysts, as quoted by The Nation, claimed that the next clash, if it happened, would see Cambodia go beyond the use of the BM-21 rocket artillery it previously used.
Each of the claims reported in the Thai media was rejected by Cambodian officials.
“Cambodia remains firmly committed to the Joint Statement adopted at the Third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between Cambodia and Thailand, and continues to strictly implement the ceasefire in good faith to preserve peace and stability along the border,” one official told The Post, on condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has repeatedly reiterated that Cambodia will seek a solution to the current order dispute through peaceful means, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).
He noted that Cambodia is prepared to wait for a new Thai government to form before resuming JBC negotiations. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
