Thailand Border Opening: PM Plan
- Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra traveled to Surin province Wednesday, focusing on easing Thai-Cambodia border tensions and boosting morale. She emphasized the need for coordinated operating hours at border...
- Chamnan Cheunta explained that four districts share a 125-kilometer border with Cambodia.
- The Chong Jom checkpoint,previously open daily,now operates only on Mondays,Wednesdays,and Fridays due to heightened tensions.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is actively working to soothe escalating tensions at the Thai-Cambodia border, as revealed during her visit to Surin province. Her plan focuses on bolstering cross-border activity through the strategic coordination of checkpoint operating hours—a key initiative during this critical period. Her push for aligned hours at the Chong Jom checkpoint hopes to overcome the challenges presented by Cambodia’s restricted schedule. Security remains a top priority, with tight measures in place ahead of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Committee meeting.News Directory 3 continues to provide updates on these urgent developments. Will these efforts successfully de-escalate the issues and create a safer border habitat? Discover what’s next for trade and travel across the border.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra Visits Surin Amid Thai-Cambodia Border Tension
Updated june 11, 2025
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra traveled to Surin province Wednesday, focusing on easing Thai-Cambodia border tensions and boosting morale. She emphasized the need for coordinated operating hours at border checkpoints to facilitate trade and the movement of people.
During a briefing at Kap Choeng Hospital, Surin Gov. Chamnan Cheunta explained that four districts share a 125-kilometer border with Cambodia. The province has 54 natural border routes and one permanent checkpoint at Chong Jom.
The Chong Jom checkpoint,previously open daily,now operates only on Mondays,Wednesdays,and Fridays due to heightened tensions. Cambodia’s revised hours create a limited six-hour window for cross-border activity.
Shinawatra inquired about aligning checkpoint hours. Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, commander of the 2nd Army Region, acknowledged potential political complexities but said army units would attempt to coordinate with Cambodian counterparts.
Shinawatra thanked Boonsin for managing the situation and directed local agencies to report misinformation to Deputy Prime Ministers Phumtham Wechayachai and Anutin Charnvirakul. She also visited the Suranaree Task Force headquarters to bolster troop morale.
Boonsin noted improvements in the Chong Bok area, the site of a recent skirmish, but said security would remain tight before the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting on Saturday. Unarmed patrols and regular meetings have been agreed upon to de-escalate tensions.
What’s next
The Thailand-Cambodia Joint Border Committee meeting aims to further de-escalate tensions and establish long-term protocols for border management and security.