War and Conflict Journal » Asia

Renewed Fighting Along Thailand-Cambodia Border

War and Conflict Journal — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:04:58 +0000

Renewed Fighting Along Thailand-Cambodia Border

http://www.historyguy.com/thailand_cambodia_border_dispute.htm

April 22-23, 2011–Renewed clashes along the disputed border erupted on April 22 and continued into the next day. Initial reports from Thailand indicated that casualties totalled eight dead and 32 wounded. The renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia involved rocket launchers and artillery. Cambodia claimed that Thai aircraft overflew Cambodian territory during the fighting, as well as claiming Thailand was again using cluster muntions.

The renewed fighting comes after several weeks of peace, and a resumption of peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia.

Thai-Cambodia Border Dispute Flares Up Again

War and Conflict Journal — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:03:47 +0000

Thailand-Cambodia

Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia are neighboring countries in Southeast Asia with a long common border and a history of wars and disputes between them. The lastest border dispute erupted into violence in October of 2008 and April of 2009, as troops from both nations exchanged fire over ownership of an ancient temple and the surrounding land.

In addition to the border dispute, the Thai government expressed extreme displeasure when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen recently praised former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and offered a him a job. Hun Sen appointed Thaksin, who convicted on corruption charges in Thailand, as an economic advisor. Thaksin was overthrown by the Thai military in a coup in 2006.

October 3, 2008–Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire with each other on the disputed territory near the Preah Vihear Temple. The fighting lasted for nearly only a few minutes, leaving two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier wounded.October 6, 2008– Two Thai soldiers were wounded by exploding landmines in the border area after entering a little more than a half mile into Cambodian territory.

October 14, 2008 –Cambodian and Thai forces opened fire on each other in the border area, leaving three Cambodian soldiers dead and two Cambodian and seven Thai soldiers wounded. One wounded Thai soldier later died of his wounds. The Cambodians claimed to have captured 13 Thai soldiers during the battle, but the Thais denied this.

April 2, 2009–Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces left at least 3 Thai soldiers and 2 Cambodian soldiers dead. Cambodia claimed 4 Thai soldiers were killed, 6 wounded, and 10 captured. 2 Cambodian soldiers were also reported killed in the border clash.

January 31, 2010–Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces left one Thai soldier dead.

April 16, 2010 Cambodia and Thai Forces opened fire on each other near Cambodia’s northwestern border in a clash which lasted for a quarter of an hour,. There were no reports of casualties in this incident.

February 4-5, 2011–Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces result in deaths among both the Thai and Cambodian military forces. Civilian deaths were also reported. As of mid-day on February 5, firm numbers of dead and wounded are not available, as both sides report widely divergent numbers. It appears that total deaths hover around ten.

Resources and Links:

http://www.historyguy.com/thailand_cambodia_border_dispute.htm

Thai, Cambodia troops clash again near temple, one killed–Business Recorder, Feb. 5, 2011

Thailand, Cambodia Border Fighting Breaks Out Amid Tensions–Voice of America, Feb. 4, 2011

Cambodia rattles Thailand’s chain –Asia Times Online, Nov. 10, 2009

Thailand-Cambodia Tensions Rise Over Appointment of Fugitive Thai Official –Voice of America, Nov. 6, 2009

Why Thai-Cambodian temple dispute lingers--Christian Science Monitor, July 22, 2008

Wars of Korea

War and Conflict Journal — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:04:57 +0000

New page on Korean History now online at: http://www.historyguy.com/wars_of_korea.htm

Wars of Korea

Donghak Peasant Revolution (1894)–This rebellion caused the Korean governement to request Chinese military intervention. This caused Japan and China to fight a war in Korea.

First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)–Japan defeated China. Many battles fought on Korean soil. The war resulted in Japan gaining increased influence in Korea.

Japanese Annexation of Korea (1910)–Though Japan retained effective control over Korea from 1905 on, the annexation was formalized in a 1910 treaty.

Anti-Japanese Resistance (1919-1945)–Many different groups and rebel forces resisted Japanese rule over Korea.

World War Two (1939-1945)–Many Koreans were drafted into Japanese forces during World War Two. The war ended with Japan defeated, and Japanese occupation of Korea ended.

Jeju Rebellion (1948-1949)–Communist rebellion on the South Korean island of Jeju

The Korean War (1950-1953)

Crisis in Korea Escalates as War Games Begin

War and Conflict Journal — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:33:02 +0000

The escalating crisis in Korea is summarized at http://www.historyguy.com/korean_crisis_2010.htm

While the the fighting of Korean War of 1950-1953 ended with an armistice nearly 60 years ago, North and South Korea are still technically at war. Their ongoing hostilities have resulted in many incidents of violence over the years, with two particular incidents in 2010 pushing the two Koreas (and their allies), close to the brink of war. Those incidents of violence between North and South Korea in 2010, were the recent attacks on a South Korean warship and the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. The details on these two incidents, as well as the events of 2009 that led up to the current crisis and the Yeonpyeong Island naval battle of 2002 are at http://www.historyguy.com/korean_crisis_2010.htm

South Korean Island Attacked By Communist North Korea

North Korean Border Attack on South Korean Island Update

War and Conflict Journal — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:40:30 +0000

Korean Border Conflicts page updated to reflect recent North Korean Attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
http://www.historyguy.com/korean_border_conflicts.htm

Diaoyu-Senkaku Islands Dispute Between Japan and China

War and Conflict Journal — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 05:50:26 +0000

Diaoyu-Senkaku Islands Dispute

Diaoyu-Senkaku Islands Dispute (2010)–While Japan and China have not fought a war since 1945, they really do not like each other. This is partially evidenced by the ongoing dispute over a group of uninhabited islands between Japan and Taiwarn (which China also claims, by the way). China calls them the Diaoyu Islands, while Japan calls them the Senkaku Islands (see map below). Both nations claim the islands as their territory, and this dispute escalated in September, 2010, when Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing trawler that collided with Japanese patrol boats and arrested the boat’s captain.
Nationalist-minded Chinese activists previously have landed on the rocky islands in order to raise the Chinese flag, but the boat incident is the most serious diplomatic dispute over these islands in decades. For more historical information on the past wars and conflicts between Japan and China, go to http://www.historyguy.com/sino-japanese_wars.html

Submarines Remind China the U.S. is Still a Pacific Power

War and Conflict Journal — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:26:03 +0000

Interesting article on Time.com regarding American naval assets in the Pacific targeting China and Beijing’s growing military presence in the Pacific. And, considering several incidents between American and Chinese naval vessels in 2009, the Tomahawk and Special Forces-carrying Ohio-class submarines appearing in the Pacific and Indian Oceans on July 4 (Good touch there, Pentagon planners!) this quiet, yet visible show of American naval power is a good reminder to the Beijing regime not to take America lightly. It is also a good message to American friends in the Pacific and East Asia that U.S. naval power is in the neighborhood.

Worth reading at

U.S. Missiles Deployed Near China Send a Message

Maoist Rebels Attack Indian Forces

War and Conflict Journal — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:38:39 +0000

http://www.historyguy.com/india_maoist_insurgent_war.htm

At least 22 troops were killed when armed Maoists attacked a camp of the paramilitary forces in India’s West Bengal state on Feb. 15, 2010.

Nearly 50 rebels on motorcycles encircled the camp of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (ERF) at Silda village on Monday and started firing on it.

More fighters joined the assault on foot, firing from automatic weapons.

More than 6,000 people have died during the rebels’ 20-year fight for communist rule in many Indian states.

The Indian government recently began a major offensive against the rebels in several states.

Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as India’s “greatest internal security challenge”.

The Maoist rebels now have a presence in 223 of India’s 600 or so districts.

Korean Waters Spark Naval Battle on Eve of Obama Visit to Asia

War and Conflict Journal — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:19:23 +0000

On November 09, 2009, a North Korean naval vessel entered South Korean waters, refused to return to the North, and then was brought under fire by the South Korean navy. The North Korean ship was partially destroyed, and managed to escape back across the Naval Limit Line, which is the sea-border between the Koreas. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Northern incursion came only days before U.S. President Barack Obama was due to visite East Asia. It is common for the Pyongyang regime to seek attention from the U.S. and from the world as a whole in order to put it’s own agenda on the table and to force other nations to deal with North Korea.
The naval battle took place near the South Korean-held island of Daecheong-do, 125 miles west of the South Korean capital of Seoul. The island is located ja mere 18 miles from the North Korean coast.

http://www.historyguy.com/korean_naval_battle_2009.htm

North Korea Launches First Missiles Since July

War and Conflict Journal — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:08:48 +0000

North Korea launched five short-range missiles into the sea and declared a “no-sail zone” for the week of October 12. The missile launches came as South Korea called for more talks on the Korean Nuclear Issue.