Anger in Cambodia after Thailand lists temples in war-torn border zone as historic monuments

The addition by Thailand of several temples, of which it took control during deadly border clashes with Cambodia in 2025, to its register of historical monuments aroused the anger of Phnom Penh on Wednesday May 13.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at odds for decades over the demarcation of their 800-kilometer border, a legacy of the French colonial era.

Tensions degenerated twice into armed conflict in July and December 2025, killing dozens on both sides and pushing hundreds of thousands of people to flee the fighting.

Cambodia claims that Thailand seized several areas in border provinces on this occasion, hosting ancient temples and archaeological sites.

The Cambodian Ministry of Culture thus called on Thailand to withdraw the“enregistrement illégal” temples of Tamone, Ta Krabey and K’nar, as well as other archaeological sites, located on their disputed border.

In Thailand, these three temples, known as Ta Muen, Ta Kwai and Nong Khana, are among nine sites added to the official Thai register “in the interest of clarity in the protection of ancient monuments”, according to an announcement published Monday in the Royal Journal.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture said in a statement that it “considered this registration to be an illegal attempt to create an artificial legal appearance regarding cultural sites located within the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”

Before the five days of border clashes in July 2025, the contested temples of Ta Krabey and Tamone hosted both Cambodian and Thai troops. The K’nar temple was controlled by the Cambodians until December.

In April, Thai officials, soldiers and monks held a Buddhist ceremony at Ta Krabey – also known as Ta Kwai –, angering Phnom Penh, which saw it as a “grave violation” why “territorial sovereignty”.

The two Southeast Asian kingdoms signed a fragile ceasefire agreement in late December, but tensions persist, with both sides accusing each other of truce violations.