The United States said on January 9 that the January 6 explosion in the Cambodia–Thailand border’s “Triangle area” was not a deliberate act by Cambodia and had not materially disrupted the current ceasefire. Speaking at an online press briefing in Bangkok, Michael DeSombre, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said the explosion occurred on the Cambodian side and was unintentional. Cambodian and Thai commanders subsequently communicated directly and reached an understanding, with neither side taking retaliatory action, showing that both continued to uphold the ceasefire agreement.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence said an explosive remnant buried in a rubbish pile accidentally detonated at 7:27 a.m. local time on January 6 in the “Triangle area” of Preah Vihear province. Cambodian soldiers were tidying their camp within their country’s sovereign territory at the time. Two Cambodian soldiers were injured, one seriously and one lightly, but the incident did not escalate tensions. Afterward, the Cambodia–Thailand coordination working group promptly activated a joint communication mechanism to exchange and verify information about the cause and circumstances at the scene and prevent miscalculation.
Thailand later alleged that Cambodia had fired a mortar toward a Thai position, injuring a Thai soldier, and issued a strong statement; Cambodia did not comment. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior reported that Thai drones had repeatedly entered Cambodian airspace over three consecutive nights in early January, affecting Koh Kong, Pursat and Preah Vihear provinces and other areas, with 27 drones crossing the border on the night of January 7 alone. Analysts consider the US characterisation of the blast as accidental helpful in easing tensions, but the allegations and drone incursions continue to create uncertainty for the ceasefire mechanism.
Compiled report by this station
