Bangkok: Yutthaporn Isarachai has expressed confidence that Thailand will ultimately prevail in the escalating conflict with Cambodia, which he insists is not a political maneuver but a forced response to aggression.
According to Thai News Agency, Associate Professor Yutthaporn Isarachai, a lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, commented that Cambodia appears to have premeditated the conflict, likely as a strategy to regain popularity amidst declining power. He noted that Cambodia’s expansion of small clashes into a larger conflict suggests a deliberate attempt to provoke a wider escalation. Thailand, he argued, is reacting to these provocations rather than instigating them.
Yutthaporn emphasized the necessity for Thailand’s Prime Minister to exhibit strong leadership, as weakness could embolden adversaries. He refuted claims that the Prime Minister’s aggressive stance is a political strategy, asserting that the situation compelled the response. While increased political support may result, it was not the intention. Yutthaporn cautioned that the political landscape could shift if the conflict leads to significant losses and public disapproval.
He highlighted that Thailand’s political environment does not permit leaders to fabricate major situations for political gain, unlike Cambodia. The Prime Minister’s actions, he said, are a response after exhausting peaceful alternatives.
Yutthaporn also addressed the potential for negotiations, asserting they will occur but not imminently. Thailand must first reclaim all targeted areas and ensure Cambodia is unable to pose further threats. He stressed the importance of Thailand demonstrating that it acted in self-defense to the international community.
He advised the government to communicate the conflict’s trajectory to the public to reduce anxiety and bolster confidence, which is crucial for maintaining psychological stability in the business sector during this period.