Thai-Cambodian conflict pits a well-equipped US ally against a weaker adversary with strong China links

. deadly conflict On the Thai-Cambodian border, the United States for a long time with decades of experience against a relatively young armed power with close ties with China for a long time allies of the United States.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh, the colonial force France have been fighting in the controversial area since they have drawn the border between them more than a century ago.

According to the officials on both sides, the clashes continued until Saturday. It has been reported that more than a dozen people have been killed, dozens of wounded in dozens of civilians have been evacuated since the fight began on Thursday.

Here is a look at the past and abilities of the two sides.

Numbers Thailand

Thailand’s military dwarfs are the dwarfs of neighboring Cambodia in both staff and weapons.

A total of 361,000 active duty personnel of Thailand spread to all branches of the kingdom army. And these troops have weapons that Cambodian colleagues can only imagine.

In the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IIS), “Military Balance 2025 ında In the world’s view of the armed forces,“ Thailand’s great, well -financed army and the Air Force is one of the best equipped and educated ones in Southeast Asia. ”

Meanwhile, the Lowy Institute has placed Thailand at the 14th ranking of the 2024 ranking of the military capabilities of 27 regional countries in the 14th.

Considering that Thailand is four times more people than Cambodia and a GDP greater than 10 times, such an inequality should be expected. Unlike Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia escaped from the collapse of the wars that swallowed the region in the second half of the 20th century and the European colonialism before them.

In general, in the Lowy Asian Power Index, Thailand, just behind Indonesia, is considered to be medium power in front of countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam.

Lowy lists Cambodia as a small force in Asia, which is grouped with countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Laos.

Thailand has strong US ties, global appearance

Thailand’s army has long been an important player in the politics of the kingdom. The country has been dominated by a conservative organization with army, monarchy and influential elite for years.

According to CIA World Factbook, the generals have seized power in 20 coups since 1932, usually overthrew democratic governments, and the army describes itself as the ultimate advocate of the monarchy.

According to the US Department of State, Thailand is an ally of the US Treaty, a status based on the signing of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty, also known as Manila Pact.

During the Vietnam War, Thailand hosted US Air Force assets at some air bases, including B-52 bombardment aircraft, and tens of thousands of Thai soldiers fought against the US-backed South Vietnam’s communist north.

Strong ties between Washington and Bangkok have folded. Thailand is classified by the United States as a non -NATO ally, and provides special benefits for it to enjoy access to dozens of years of support for arms programs.

Thailand and the US Indo-Pacific Command, which started in 1982 as a joint exercise with the US, but since then dozens of other participants added. According to the US military, the world’s longest international military exercise.

In addition to Cobra Gold, the US State Department says that Thailand and US forces have organized more than 60 exercises together, and more than 900 US aircraft and 40 navy ships visit Thailand every year.

Despite all the history with Washington, the Thai Army is now trying to maintain a more neutral approach to military policy and increases relations with China in the last decade.

According to the “Military Balance” report, he says that he has developed a powerful domestic weapon industry with the help of countries such as Israel, Italy, Russia, South Korea and Sweden who do not want to trust as a gun supplier to any country.

Cambodia’s Chinese support

According to IISS, Cambodia’s army is young compared to Thailand, which was founded in 1993 after the forces of the communist government were united with two non -communists army.

“Cambodia’s most important international defense connections with China and Vietnam. Despite a traditional confidence in defense equipment with China and Vietnam, China has emerged as a lock supplier,” IISS says.

Beijing has even developed a naval base in Cambodia. According to international analysts, the Ream Naval Base in the Gulf of Thailand can host Chinese aircraft carriers.

Cambodia and China completed the seventh edition of the annual Golden Dragon joint military exercises in May, which had the largest and lively live fire training scenarios.

According to a report on the English Language website of the People’s Liberation in February, this year is expected to “reach a new level and provide a new development”.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian, “China and Cambodia are always supporting each other iron-covered friends. Two soldiers enjoy the broken relationships and rock-floor brotherhood,” he said.

Cambodia’s army needs support.

“Cambodia is currently lacking its ability to design and produce modern equipment for its armed forces, IIS says the IISS report.

Weapons on both sides

According to IISS, the royal Thai Air Force, which has been supported by US support for years, is well equipped with well-equipped, at least 11 modern Swedish Grephen fighter planes and dozens of old, US-made F-16 and F-5 jets. Cambodia does not have war with war.

There are dozens of war tanks, including Thailand, 60 modern, Chinese-made VT-4 tank and hundreds of older, US tanks. “Military Balance”, Cambodia has about 200 ancient Chinese and Soviet -made tanks.

The Thai army has more than 600 artillery pieces, including at least 56 powerful 155mm weapons and more than 550 105mm weapons. According to the IISS figures, Cambodia has a dozen 155mm weapon with about 400 smaller artillery pieces.

In the air, there are 18 US Black Hawk transportation as well as Army US -made Cobra attack helicopters. Cambodia has only a few dozen old Soviet and Chinese transport helicopters.

What will happen next

Carl Schuster, a Hawaii-based military analyst Carl Schuster, the US Pacific Command of the Pacific Intelligence Center, Carl Schuster, said that he had the minimum of anything in his favor, while Thailand has a numerical and qualitative military advantage-the real land along the border.

“The land supports access to the controversial region from Cambodia territory, Sch said Schuster told CNN.

And when it is claimed that the Cambodian forces put land mines and boob traps in the controversial region, Thailand can be expected to rely on longer -range weapons.

“Royal Thai Air Force superior and special forces are superior, Sch said Schuster. “I think Thais will prefer to emphasize air power and long -range firepower in the conflict.”

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