Reports from the border areas have shown the hardship and suffering of the Cambodian and Thai people caused by the current land border closure. Their plight will only get worse if the border closure is prolonged.
The solution to opening the border is not easy. The story will be completely over if the Thai side decides to reopen everything because Cambodia has already said that Thailand is the one who started the restrictions and closures, so Thailand must also start opening first. Cambodia will reopen without delay.
The unilateral decision by the Thai military to close all Cambodian-Thai border crossings on June 23, 2025, is a concrete measure in the face of border tensions with Cambodia, implemented by the Thai side under the pretext of national security, but it has brought about unexpected and worrying consequences: an increase in illegal smuggling.
In the beginning, this activity may not exist, and if there is, it will be minimal, but in the future, if it is closed for a long time, the people will be in a more difficult situation and various crimes may occur. Cross-border smuggling networks will emerge, which is a bad situation for Cambodia and Thailand. If left unchecked, it could have long-term effects on the economies, security, and societies of both countries.
This issue is inevitable in the future because along the border, which has a total length of more than 800 kilometers, the two sides have not yet clearly defined it. Therefore, loopholes that crooks will exploit may eventually arise.
In such a situation, the flow of people and goods across borders will inevitably occur. In such a situation, smugglers and criminal networks that illegally import and export goods may increase, and at the same time, exploitation will worsen.
Such a situation will not only create dangers for all citizens, but the economies of both countries, especially tax revenues as well as trade and other income from legitimate trade, will also disappear. But it breeds and fuels black markets, corruption, and complex transnational crime. It can also expose local communities to unsafe products, dangerous working conditions, and exploitation. Farmers, small traders, and ordinary workers on both sides lose their legal income and have no choice but to turn to risky illegal routes.
In such an environment, it It is time for all relevant authorities and institutions to pay serious attention to this issue and not be involved in the activities or join hands with the criminal networks that will emerge. All relevant institutions in the border provinces must strengthen this task, namely, strengthen law enforcement according to the goals and orders from the higher levels and focus on preventing illegal smuggling and protecting the border communities.
Relevant institutions should establish a safe and legal trade mechanism from the central level and distribute products from various provinces to ensure the flow of goods and other necessities that border residents have previously needed to reach them when they need them.
In addition, Institutions should also ensure the flow of products from the border community that were previously exported to Thailand to be distributed in the central market, that is, how to ensure their survival. Otherwise, the community will only see one thing: illegal smuggling activities, even though they know that they are dangerous to them. In addition, safety standards as well as quality are also important factors, because smuggling activities cannot respect high standards of hygiene and quality. Therefore, users are also exposed to higher risks.
In short, in a situation where both parties can negotiate and open the port quickly, it is okay, but in the case where the port is closed for a long time, these problems will occur. So hopefully, the relevant institutions will consider and study which mechanism is beneficial for the citizens.
The Cambodian leadership said that opening the border is not difficult, just that the Thai side opens the border normally and normally as before the unilateral decision to close it before June 7, and Cambodia will open it no longer than 5 hours later.
But the important thing is that the Thai side, especially the military, does not know how they think and implement it, while now many Thai citizens are affected and disadvantaged by this problem. For the sake of the people of both countries, a solution must be found to open the border as quickly as possible.
