A visual guide to the historical maps and temples at the heart of the Thailand-Cambodia conflict

Border conflict has roots in colonial maps and long-standing ‘sibling rivalry’Thailand and Cambodia have been locked in a border dispute for more than a century, which exploded again in the summer of 2025. Peace efforts have had mixed results and fighting continues.A historical dispute over lines drawn on colonial maps is often used as a pretext for simmering nationalism. The two countries have had what one historian called a “sibling rivalry” for decades, fanned by competing claims to the region’s rich cultural heritage, including ancient temples in disputed areas. Continue reading...