A Chinese national sustained injuries from a landmine explosion while allegedly attempting to cross illegally from Cambodia into Thailand’s contested border region on Saturday, according to an official announcement from the Thai army. The incident has reignited diplomatic tensions between the Southeast Asian neighbors, with Thailand reiterating allegations that Cambodian forces have been planting anti-personnel devices in the disputed territory.
Army Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree identified the injured individual as 26-year-old Shi Jingui from China’s Yunnan Province, stating the explosion occurred in an area Thailand claims as part of its eastern Sa Kaeo province. The region, described by Thai authorities as ‘contaminated with land mines,’ is currently undergoing scheduled clearance operations. While official statements provided no specific details regarding the nature of Shi’s injuries, the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok confirmed the individual was in stable condition.
This latest incident exacerbates existing tensions between the two nations, following similar explosions earlier this year that wounded Thai soldiers and triggered five days of intensive cross-border fighting in late July. The longstanding territorial disputes over border demarcation have strained bilateral relations for decades.
Recent mine incidents threatening the ceasefire agreement that ended the brief conflict prompted Thailand earlier this month to indefinitely pause implementation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire terms until Cambodia apologizes for an explosion that injured four Thai soldiers, including one who required amputation of his right foot.
The Thai army stated it became aware of Saturday’s incident when Border Patrol Police heard an explosion shortly before dawn. Authorities deployed a drone to assess the situation, located the injured man, and dispatched demining and security personnel to retrieve him for medical treatment.
Thailand maintains that collected evidence proves the mines are newly laid, accusing Cambodia of violating international agreements banning anti-personnel mines. Cambodia has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that the devices could be remnants from decades of internal armed conflicts that concluded with the official surrender of Khmer Rouge guerrillas in 1999.
Despite the accusations, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata recently affirmed her country’s commitment to ‘working closely with Thailand to promote peace and stability between the two countries, especially ensuring the security and safety of civilians.’ However, Thai army spokesperson Winthai countered that Cambodia ‘has not cooperated with Thailand in clearing mines along the shared border, despite Thailand’s repeated proposals in bilateral meetings.’