Thailand-Cambodia war: Which country has more powerful military and what are the roles played by US and China?

New Delhi: A important clash broke out on the border between the troopers of Thailand and Cambodia on Thursday, July 24 in which both aspect attacked the opposite small fingers, cannons and rockets. Thailand even utilized air strikes on the neighbouring country with US F-16 airplane. No lower than 14 folks were killed in this clash, most of whom are civilians. At the an analogous time, a pair of lakh folks were pressured to flit from the border living. Questions are also being raised about the position of The united states and China in this war. Let us notice intimately.

What's the 116-one year-outdated border dispute?

The roots of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia scurry aid to a procedure made in 1907, when Cambodia become as soon as below French colonial rule. This procedure tried to account for the 817-kilometer-prolonged border of the 2 countries, however the dispute remained on account of ambiguity in a lot of areas. In explicit, outdated Khmer temples similar to Preah Vihear and Ta Muan Thom were on the centre of the dispute. Cambodia’s strive to register the Preah Vihear temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Location in 2008 extra infected the dispute.

This become as soon as adopted by violent clashes between the 2 countries in 2011, which left no lower than 34 folks silly and hundreds displaced. In 1962 and 2013 the World Court docket of Justice (ICJ) recognised Cambodia’s articulate to the Preah Vihear temple, but Thailand refused to construct up the ICJ’s jurisdiction. The dispute flared up again in 2025 and tensions escalated after the death of a Cambodian soldier in May 2025, and in July heavy gunfire broke out between the 2 sides finish to the Ta Muan Thom temple. Thailand attacked Cambodian positions with F-16 fighter jets, whereas Cambodia answered with rockets and artillery. The violence killed no lower than 16 folks, mainly Thai civilians, and displaced hundreds.

Army Strength Comparability: Thailand vs Cambodia

What is Thailand’s Army Strength?

Thailand’s militia force is ranked twenty fifth within the field and third within the ASEAN build after Indonesia and Vietnam. Thailand has 360,000 exciting troops, at the side of 115,000 enlisted troopers. Moreover to, there are 240,000 reserve troops and paramilitary forces, bringing the whole sequence of militia personnel to over 600,000.

It has 635 foremost fight tanks, over 16,900 armoured combating vehicles (AFVs), 50 self-propelled howitzers, and 589 towed artilleries.

Thailand’s air force includes F-16 fighter jets, Unlit Hawk helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

With 70,000 personnel, Thailand’s navy includes one airplane carrier, seven frigates, 68 littoral fight ships, and 23,000 Marine Corps.

What is Cambodia’s militia strength?

Cambodia is ranked Ninety fifth within the Global Firepower Index 2025. It has 124,300 exciting troops, at the side of 75,000 within the Army. Reserve and paramilitary forces are restricted. The whole sequence of militia personnel is set 231,000.

Cambodia has 644 tanks (mainly older T-55 items), 3,627 armoured vehicles, and 463 a pair of open rocket programs (MLRS), similar to the Soviet-generation BM-21 Grad and the Czech RM-70.

With best 1,500 personnel, Cambodia’s air force has no fight airplane, but has 10 transport airplane, 10 transport helicopters, and 16 multi-honest helicopters, similar to the Soviet Mi-17 and the Chinese language Z-9.

With 2,800 personnel, Cambodia’s navy includes 13 coastal fight ships and one landing craft.

General, Thailand’s militia strength a long way outweighs Cambodia’s. Thailand’s defense budget is set seven events higher than Cambodia’s, and it has extra contemporary weapons, a closer-expert military, and stronger air and naval capabilities. Cambodia has a elevated sequence of MLRS, which will doubtless be effective in restricted areas, but can not counter Thailand’s air and naval superiority.

What's the position of the united states and China?

The position of the united states and China in this border dispute affords it a geopolitical dimension. Each countries are attempting to expand their influence in Southeast Asia, and the Thailand-Cambodia battle has change into a strategic opportunity for them.

Many analysts factor in that this battle may change into a proxy war between the US and China. Some users on social media have seen it as “US vs China”, where both countries are pursuing their pursuits by offering fingers and enhance to their allies. However, there's no longer such a thing as a evidence of command militia involvement of China or the US in this battle but. Restful, the strategic pursuits of both countries have the aptitude to destabilize the build.

(Supply: Global Firepower Index 2025)