Sen, who visited the Oddar Meanchey province to inspect the situation and meet with troops and residents, stated that Cambodia will not only defend itself but also take the offensive if the conflict escalates.

This is Hun Sen’s first visit to the province since a clash in the Mom Bei area almost a month ago, which exacerbated tensions between the two countries.

Hun Sen asserted that Cambodia does not want war, but will firmly defend its sovereignty against any invading force.

He warned that if the leadership in Bangkok does not change its attitude, the conflict could escalate into a protracted war, unlike the 2011 brief border clashes over the Preah Vihear temple.

An armed clash on the Cambodia-Thailand border on May 28 killed a Cambodian soldier and sparked a conflict between the two countries.

Despite efforts to resolve differences, tensions continue to rise.

abo/iff/mem/asg/liz