Thai navy temporarily blocks key border road as fresh razor wire installed
A large number of Thai troops have deployed new barbed wire to block the ‘Pig’s Snout’ junction road, a key route linking the area to Koh Kong province. Supplied
Tensions flared again between Chinese vendors and Thai forces in the Thmor Da area of Veal Veng district, Pursat province, this morning, January 16, as large numbers of Thai naval troops moved in to reinstall razor wire and re-encircle Chinese-owned businesses, a day after the barriers had been removed.
Images and videos circulating on social media and recorded at the scene show that on January 15, Chinese shop owners in the area dismantled the razor wire and raised Chinese national flags in front of their shops in order to resume business operations.
This morning, Thai forces returned re-laid razor wire in front of the shops, extending the barricades until they blocked the “Pig’s Snout” junction road — a key route linking the area to Koh Kong province.
The renewed deployment sparked concern among traders and local residents along the border, as the situation remained tense with no clear sign of de-escalation.
Veal Veng district deputy police chief Sum Kimseng said the razor wire had been placed more than one kilometre deep into Cambodian territory from the border line between the two countries.
“I saw the Chinese nationals removing the razor wire through social media, and our forces reported the situation accordingly,” he said.
Speaking to The Post, Kimseng added that no Cambodian civilians approached the razor wire due to the heavy presence of Thai troops inside the barricaded area.
“Cambodian residents stayed about five to seven metres away. Only the Chinese shop owners went near the Thai forces to remove the wire,” he said.
Throughout the morning of January 16, social media users continued to post photos and videos showing a large Thai force reinstalling razor wire across the front of Chinese-owned shops and removing the Chinese flags that had been put up the previous day.
The troops also extended the razor wire to block traffic at the Pig’s Snout junction, disrupting movement for Cambodian residents and Chinese business operators.
Pursat deputy governor Heng Sopheana confirmed that the road at the junction had been blocked earlier in the morning.
“The troops did close the road at that point,” he told The Post. “But they later removed the razor wire and withdrew, and traffic has since returned to normal.”
Thai Navy spokesperson Parach Rattanachaiphan said on the morning of January 16 that the razor wire had been installed by the Trat Marine Special Forces to define troop deployment lines and manage control of the area, citing a joint statement signed by the defence ministers of both countries on December 27, 2025.
However, the joint statement dated December 27 explicitly requires both sides to halt all military activities, allow civilians to return freely to their homes without obstruction, and avoid any actions that could provoke or escalate tensions.
Sophana added that ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) members had arrived at the Pig’s Snout area to inspect and assess the impact following the military actions and the laying of razor wire inside Cambodian territory.
