Sabre Rattling in Shiva’s Shadow

Preah Vihear, a 1,000-year-old Shiva temple built during the Khmer era, remains a flashpoint of nationalist and geopolitical tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, its fate unresolved since colonial times.

Thailand and Cambodia are once again at odds over a 1,000-year-old Hindu temple perched on their disputed border. Preah Vihear, dedicated to Lord Shiva and famed for its Khmer architecture, lies at the centre of a geopolitical conflict shaped by colonial history, international law, and regional rivalry. Though administered by Cambodia, the surrounding area remains contested, with recent skirmishes reigniting the long-dormant dispute.

The latest flashpoint came in May 2025, when a Cambodian soldier was reportedly killed in a brief exchange of fire near Morokot village. Both sides blamed each other, but deeper tensions persist. For Thailand, the temple’s location, more easily accessed from its side, has long been a political and cultural grievance. For Cambodia, it remains a symbol of pride and sovereignty, especially after international rulings in its favour.

Colonial Cartography

The Preah Vihear dispute stems from the region’s colonial past. In the early 20th century, French authorities began marking the boundary between Siam (now Thailand) and Cambodia. A 1904 agreement set the border along the Dangrek Mountains’ watershed, but a 1907 French map placed Preah Vihear in Cambodia - a detail Thailand did not contest then but later challenged.

This uneasy calm began to unravel after the Second World War, as both countries underwent profound political change. Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953 and quickly asserted its territorial integrity as a newly sovereign state. In 1954, Thai forces occupied Preah Vihear, citing its accessibility from Thai territory and challenging the legitimacy of the colonial-era map. Cambodia responded by taking the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

In 1962, the ICJ ruled in Cambodia’s favour, ordering Thailand to withdraw. Thailand complied, but resentment remained, especially over the vaguely defined surrounding lands.

Renewed Tensions

The conflict reignited in 2008 when Cambodia secured UNESCO World Heritage status for Preah Vihear. Cambodia saw this as recognition of the temple’s value, but Thailand viewed it as a unilateral move undermining its land claims. Thailand protested, and border clashes soon followed, killing dozens and displacing hundreds between 2008 and 2011.

The violence prompted further legal action. In 2011, Cambodia sought ICJ clarification of the 1962 ruling. In 2013, the Court reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over the temple but did not rule on the surrounding 4.6 sq km disputed area, leaving room for ongoing disagreement and conflict.

The May 2025 skirmish reignited the longstanding dispute, drawing regional and international attention. Cambodian officials accused Thai troops of violating a tacit ceasefire by advancing into sensitive territory and opening fire. Thailand denied this, claiming it responded to Cambodian provocation. Though escalation was avoided, both governments issued swift statements to reassure domestic audiences and sustain international pressure.

Cambodia announced plans to petition the ICJ for a definitive ruling on the disputed area beyond the adjudicated zone. Thailand called for reviving bilateral talks via the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), dormant for over a decade. The JBC met on 14 June 2025 in what both sides called a constructive step, though major breakthroughs remain elusive, with both nations reinforcing border positions.

The Preah Vihear dispute cannot be separated from the domestic politics of both nations. In Thailand, the temple often fuels nationalist sentiment, especially during political instability, with parties and activists using it to rally support and deflect from internal issues. Cambodia similarly frames the temple’s defence as a patriotic response to historical injustice and foreign encroachment.

These rival nationalisms obscure the temple’s shared heritage. Built during the Khmer Empire, Preah Vihear reflects a time when Southeast Asia’s cultural and spiritual boundaries were more fluid than today’s political borders. Cambodians and Thais share historical, linguistic, and religious ties to the site, but modern geopolitics has made it a flashpoint rather than a shared monument.

Villages on both sides have faced repeated displacement, with military activity disrupting farming, trade, and daily life. Infrastructure has stalled, and tourism remains largely untapped due to security concerns.

The UNESCO listing, though prestigious, has had mixed results. It brought funding and global attention, but also intensified political claims. Cambodia, with Indian support, has led the restoration, while Thai officials criticise what they see as unilateral control. Proposals for joint management or tourism have emerged but faltered amid mutual distrust.

The path to resolving the dispute remains complex and uncertain. A new ICJ ruling may offer legal clarity, but deeper political and emotional issues require political will, ongoing diplomacy, and shifts in public narrative on both sides.

In a region that champions ASEAN unity, the Preah Vihear conflict is a stark reminder of how unresolved colonial legacies can disrupt harmony. The ancient temple endures not just as a historical monument but as a symbol of contested memory, identity and Southeast Asia’s diplomatic challenges.

(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)