Ubon Ratchathani: The Royal Thai Army has released aerial map images illustrating the past and present conditions of the Chong Bok border in Ubon Ratchathani. These images reveal military activities such as canal digging and road construction aimed at supplying troops prior to the clash at Chong Bok on May 28, 2025.
According to Thai News Agency, the Thai Army spokesperson team has shared aerial map data prepared by the Royal Thai Army Headquarters concerning the ongoing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The aerial photographs, which date back to 1954, provide insights into the historical usage of the area. The photographs, taken periodically through 1977, 1984, and subsequent years, indicate that the area in question has not been occupied or utilized as claimed.
The Thai military data further highlights the red lines on the map that delineate the borders between Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The point of contention is identified as an area accessed from the Thai side. The Thai army has conducted continuous aerial surveillance in years such as 1996, 2003, 2010, and 2018, reinforcing the claim that the area has remained unoccupied over the past 70 years. Recent aerial images from 2020 and April 2025 show significant military movements and changes in terrain, culminating in the digging of a coulet just before the clash on May 28, 2025.
Additionally, images showing the air clashes depict the cutting down of Cassia fistula trees to obstruct patrol routes, an activity that commenced in April 2025.