Thai-Cambodian battle pits a well-equipped US ally in opposition to a weaker adversary with sturdy China hyperlinks

CNN
 — 

The deadly conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border pits a longtime United States ally with a long time of expertise in opposition to a comparatively younger armed drive with shut ties to China.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh are combating over territory disputed since colonial energy France drew the border between them greater than a century in the past.

Clashes continued into Saturday, in response to officers on each side. Greater than a dozen individuals have been reported killed, dozens wounded, and greater than 150,000 civilians evacuated since combating started on Thursday.

Right here’s a take a look at the histories and capabilities of the 2 sides.

Numbers favor Thailand

Thailand’s army dwarfs that of neighboring Cambodia, each in personnel and weaponry.

Thailand’s complete of 361,000 active-duty personnel unfold throughout all branches of the dominion’s army is 3 times Cambodia’s. And people troops have at their disposal weaponry their Cambodian counterparts might solely dream of.

“Thailand has a big, well-funded army and its air drive is among the greatest outfitted and educated in Southeast Asia,” the Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research (IISS) wrote in its “Army Stability 2025” take a look at the world’s armed forces.

In the meantime, a 2024 rating of the army capabilities of 27 regional nations by the Lowy Institute locations Thailand at 14th, to Cambodia’s twenty third.

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