12/13/2025
Thailand’s origins lie in the migration of Tai-speaking peoples from southern China into mainland Southeast Asia, settling in regions already inhabited by established civilizations such as the Mon Dvaravati culture and the Khmer Empire. As Khmer power declined, expanding Tai states absorbed large portions of historic Khmer territory.
Along with land, key elements of Khmer culture, script, temple architecture, religion, and population were incorporated. Today, many areas historically Khmer lie within modern Thailand, particularly in the northeast. Khmer temples such as Phimai, Phanom Rung, and Muang Tam were built by Khmer kings, yet are often presented as exclusively Thai heritage.
Territorial and cultural disputes persist, especially at sites like Ta Muen Thom and Ta Krabey along the Cambodian–Thai border. Cambodian authorities also report Thai military actions that violate the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord of 26 October 2025, undermining regional stability.
From Cambodia’s perspective, peace requires respect for history, sovereignty, and diplomacy, not historical revisionism or military pressure.
