Opinions
Battles on Temple Ruins: How Colonial Legacy Blew Up the Border between Thailand and Cambodia
The legal uncertainty surrounding the border conflict destabilises the entire Southeast Asian region, which prides itself on its ability to maintain peace and dialogue through the diplomatic framework of the ASEAN Way. An escalation of the conflict contributes to a rift within ASEAN itself, as the principle of consensus is the cornerstone of the Association's functioning, and a full-scale conflict between its two members paralyses it and prevents effective decision-making on other international issues, which also narrows Russia's room for manoeuvre.