A new 15-kilometre border road along the Thai-Cambodian frontier in Chanthaburi is expected to be completed by the end of this month, facilitating tactical troop movement if necessary.
Rear Admiral Paraj Ratanajaipan, spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), said on Wednesday the road in Pong Nam Ron district had reached 13km. The gravel-paved road will enhance military logistics and enable rapid mobilisation along the border zone.
Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Pairote Fuangchan inspected the site to assess readiness in case of renewed tensions and review progress in solving border encroachments in Chanthaburi and Trat, where 17 problem areas have been identified.
These included illegal Cambodian military outposts, man-made channels, and rubber plantations extending into Thai territory, said the spokesman. Most have already been addressed, and Adm Pairote has ordered operations to ensure all incursions are cleared from Thai soil, he added.
The road project was initiated after Thai forces detected encroachment near the Ban Laem border, where Cambodian workers dug channels to divert water and cut off sections of Thai land. Thai troops and villagers collaborated to refill the trenches and restore the terrain. Locals also raised funds and provided machinery to support the effort, he said.
The Navy chief’s visit also followed up on the National Security Council’s policy to install fencing along the frontier.
Adm Pairote surveyed areas between boundary markers 52 and 58, identified as suitable for the first phase of construction with mutual consent from both sides. The fencing aims to curb cross-border crime – particularly drug trafficking and illegal migration – while strengthening local security, said the navy spokesman.
Adm Pairote also visited border units stationed in the tense zone, praising their dedication despite limited troop rotations.
He urged officers to maintain morale and expressed gratitude to civilians who had contributed labour and resources to reclaim disputed land.
The spokesman reaffirmed the military’s commitment to defending national sovereignty, saying: ‘Not a single inch of Thai territory will be surrendered.’