Name of presentation

The Thailand-Cambodia Boundary Dispute and Its Implications for ASEAN Community

2015Ubonwan Yoosuk

National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan

The Fifth APISA CongressRegional Integration in Asia and Europe in the 21th Century

24-25 November 2011Oversea Chinese University, Taichung, Taiwan

Structure• Development of boundary

dispute between Thailand and Cambodia– History of border conflict– Domestic politics

• Implications for ASEAN and its plan to become ASEAN community by 2015 – Potential to jeopardize ASEAN plan

to become a regional community by 2015

– Challenge ASEAN’s credibility and its principle of non-use of force

– challenge suitability of non-interference principle

Development of boundary dispute between Thailand and

Cambodia• History of border conflict– Concept of “boundary” of Southeast Asian countries

before 19th century– Cambodia came under French colonial domination in

1863– the border settlement of 1904 and 1907 between

Thailand and France– Cambodia became independent in 1953 and the

protracted negotiations between two countries from 1954 to 1958

– bringing the case to the ICJ in 1959 and the result :• The Court ruled on June 15, 1962 that Preah Vihear was

under the sovereignty of Cambodia by a majority vote of 9 to 3.

• The ICJ ruling left ownership of 1.8 square mile of land immediately around the site unresolved.

Development of boundary dispute between Thailand and

Cambodia• The Memorandum of Understanding

between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary, 14 June 2000.

• The listing of the temple as a UN World Heritage site in 2008 which was first proposed by Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2001.

Development of boundary dispute between Thailand and

Cambodia• Domestic politics

– Although both Thailand and Cambodia have been long laid claim to this temple and border territories, however the current conflict has escalated due to domestic political developments in both countries, especially in Thailand.

– The political elites of Thailand and Cambodia have used the border dispute to promote nationalism for domestic politics purposes.

Year Domestic Politics Relationship between Thailand and Cambodia Thailand Cambodia

2005 The PAD or the Yellow Shirts manipulated the sense of nationalism to contest the Thaksin’s government.

Hun Sen has employed the conflict to stimulate nationalist sentiment.

2006 Military coup to depose Thaksin’s government.

2007 Thaksin’s party reinvented itself as the PPP and proceeded to win the election.

March 2008

Thai’s government expressed Thailand’s support for the Cambodian’s nomination of the temple as part of the world Heritage within the context of fractious Thai domestic politics.

Hun Sen exploited the temple issue as a campaign on nationalistic feelings to build support before the elections.

an agreement between the two countries was signed.

June 2008

Thai foreign minister supported Cambodia's bid to seek World Heritage status for the temple.

July 2008

Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Thai foreign minister and the entire cabinet had violated the Thai constitution by failing to seek parliamentary approval for the deal.

Cambodia prompted a military build-up.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers began to exchange fire at the temple in July August and October 2008

Nov 2008

the PAD protestors seized control of Suvarnabhumi airport.

Year Domestic Politics Relationship between Thailand and Cambodia Thailand Cambodia

Dec 2008

Thai constitutional judged to dissolve the PPP party and Democratic Party has formed government.

Tension

April2009

The UDD or the red shirt which demanded Abhisit’s resignation and new elections.

Border clashes continued along the Thai-Cambodian border in April 2009.

Nov 2009

Thai PM accused that Cambodia was interfering in Thai internal affairs.

Cambodian government’s designation of Thaksin as an economic adviser.

Cambodia and Thailand have recalled their ambassadors from each other's country.

Jan 2010

Cambodian and Thai troops exchange fire some 10 miles southeast of the temple.

Dec 2010

Seven Thai Peoples crossed into the territory under Cambodian control and were detained.

Cambodia court judged to fine five Thai people. The remaining two, however, were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment

Tension

Feb 2011

Thai and Cambodian troops exchange heavy fire along the Thai-Cambodian border continued a period of four days between February 4 to 7, 2011.

Implications for ASEAN and its plan to become ASEAN community by 2015 1. Potential to jeopardize ASEAN plan to

become a regional community by 2015– ASEAN may be difficult to achieve ASEAN

Political-Security Community (APSC) if it can not play an effective mediate role to resolve the dispute.

– ASEAN member countries may not ready for the next step of integration.

– ASEAN plan to become ASEAN community by 2015 depends on the behavior of its member countries.

Implications for ASEAN and its plan to become ASEAN community by 2015 2. challenged its credibility and its principle of non-use of force.• challenged its principle of non-use of

force – For over forty years, no ASEAN member state has

used violence against another. Therefore, the potential dangers given the numerous unsettled issues in the region.

• challenged ASEAN credibility – challenged ASEAN credibility as a guarantee of

peace in the region and it will be in danger of losing its role as driver of the regional security architecture.

Implications for ASEAN and its plan to become ASEAN community by 2015 3. challenge suitability of non-interference principle.• ASEAN member states adhere to non-interference in

domestic affairs of member countries.• The ASEAN Charter provides for conciliation and

mediation to solve disputes in some Articles of Charter of the ASEAN.

• Thai government preferred to solve the problem bilaterally.• Cambodia’s internationalization of the issue by calling on the

UNSC to engage this dispute.• Most important obstacle to the effectiveness of current

conflict management mechanisms is the member countries’ perceptions of its legitimacy as an effective organization to play a key role in settling the conflict.

Thank you for your attention

Ubonwan YoosukNational Chung Hsing University,

Taiwan R.O.C.