Buddhist scholars, monks, community leaders, and diplomats called for Cambodia and Thailand to adopt the principles of non-violence and compassion as a means to establish sustainable peace and mutual understanding between the two nations. They were speaking at an academic forum titled “The Buddhist Way and Resolution of the Thai–Cambodian Conflict,” held in Bangkok on Monday.

“People-to-people relations between Cambodia and Thailand remain strong through education, religious practice, and the shared use of language in the Tipitaka (Buddhist texts),” said Cherdkiat Atthakorn, former Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh and president of the Thai–Cambodian Friendship Association, which jointly organized the forum with the Bodhgaya Vijjalaya 980 Institute on 23 February. (Khmer Times)

A territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand escalated into an armed clash along the Cambodia-Thailand border on 24 July 2025, killing more than a hundred people and displacing more than half a million civilians. Despite both governments agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire on 28 July 2025, fighting resumed in December last year, with the Thai military taking control of several towns and hills in disputed areas near the border.

Atthakorn pointed out that both countries shared common cultural roots and had embraced Buddhism as their spiritual foundation for nearly a thousand years—long before the demarcation of modern national borders. “This shared foundation makes the Buddhist way a viable basis for restoring mutual understanding in the long term” he added. (Khmer Times)

Ven. Phra Metheevarayan, dean of the Faculty of Buddhism at Thailand’s Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, noted that Buddhism had served as a strong cultural foundation in mainland Southeast Asia, contributing to centuries of peace in the region.

In light of this, the monk stressed the necessity of nurturing “public consciousness,” while addressing the need to diminish prejudice, ego, and hatred, and enhancing shared understanding through education and constructive dialogue.

Ven. Phra Metheevarayan emphasized: “Right speech, right view, and right conduct, a crucial part of Lord Buddha’s teachings, are therefore central to conflict management.” (Khmer Times)

The secretary-general of the Bodhgaya Vijjalaya 980 Institute, Supachai Weeraphuchong, shared his experiences of promoting Buddhism at regional and international levels, including organizing the “Dhamma Yatra of the Five Mekong Countries,” which connects Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam through spiritual and peace-building activities. 

“Such initiatives reflect the role of [the] Dhamma as soft power that connects states, peoples, and cultures on the foundation of compassion, loving-kindness, and peace,” Weeraphuchong remarked. (Khmer Times)

On 24 February, Thailand’s military reported that its troops had exchanged fire with Cambodian forces along the shared border, and accused Cambodia of breaching a December truce, while Phnom Penh denied allegations of weapon use.

The following day, Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Manet, expressed a desire for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the border conflict, denying recent incidents of gunfire and calling for the withdrawal of Thai troops.

“We are not escalating. We want de-escalation. We want peaceful coexistence,” said Hun Manet. (The Straits Times)

See more 

Thailand and Cambodia urged to take Buddhist path to peace (Khmer Times)
Thailand, Cambodia dispute exchange of fire at border (CNA)
Cambodia wants ‘de-escalation’ in conflict with Thailand, PM tells AFP (The Straits Times)
Thailand-Cambodia conflict (Britannica)

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