A Study On The Debate Between Baiyashi Temple And Its Territory In Thailand And Cambodia

This paper studies the disputes on the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding territory between Thailand and Cambodia.The Preah Vihear Temple, located in the border areas between Thailand and Cambodia, was originally a Hindu temple, constructed by the Angkor Kingdom of Cambodia. After the13th century, with the decline of Hinduism in the region, Preah Vihear Temple gradually was transformed into a Buddhist temple.Historically, the disputes on the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding territory between Thailand and Cambodia has experienced three stages:a) in the early stage, due to the decline of the Cambodian national power in the18th century, the Preah Vihear Temple was ceded to Thailand; b) during the French colonial rule in Cambodia, the Preah Vihear temple changed hands several times between Thailand and Cambodia; c) since Cambodia’s independence, the two sides struggling for the Preah Vihear temple and its surrounding territory witnessed conflicts in1958, verdict of the International Tribunal and border clash in2008, and so on.The disputes on the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding territory between Thailand and Cambodia involve historical root, factor of the Western colonial expansion, and their domestic political considerations. However, the unresolved disputes have become refractory wounds in the Thai-Cambodian relations, not only leading directly to the residents around the border areas displaced, resulting in the political instability of both sides, but also hindering the development of their bilateral trade, undermining the people-to-people friendly atmosphere, thus damaging to their bilateral relations and affecting regional peace and stability. For ASEAN, the disputes release a negative impact on its security community building and security integration progress, and become a challenge difficult to avoid.For the peace and development of Thailand, Cambodia and the Southeast Asian region, both Thailand and Cambodia should seek for possible solutions to resolve the disputes through international law, or bilateral negotiations, or ASEAN mechanism concerned. In short, it is the only way by consultation and negotiation to properly resolve the Thai-Cambodia disputes on the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding territory, which to the greatest extent meets the fundamental interests of both Thailand and Cambodia.