Thailand Cambodia Clash: Preah Vihear Temple Dispute Explained

1. Basic Context
   • Thailand (earlier Siam) carried out airstrikes in Cambodia after clashes along their disputed border.
   • The conflict centers on territorial claims around the Preah Vihear temple.
   
2. Why Are the Two Countries Fighting?
   → Because both claim the land around Preah Vihear temple.
   • Temple lies on a cliff along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
   • Temple belongs to Cambodia (as per ICJ), but access routes lie through Thailand → constant friction.
   
3. Deep Historical Roots
   The dispute originates in colonial-era border drawing.
   • The Khmer Empire originally controlled the region, but Siam  later expanded into Cambodian territory.
   • Under French colonial rule, borders were redrawn.
   • A 1904 Siam–France treaty placed the border along the Dangrek watershed, which would put the temple in Siam.
   • However, a 1907 French map placed the temple in Cambodia.
   

This contradiction—treaty vs map—created the long-standing territorial ambiguity. Nationalist claims and shared Theravada Buddhist heritage further fuel the rivalry, with both nations claiming cultural ownership.

Beijing Clean Air Strategy: How China Reduced Air Pollution

Beijing’s Governance Approach to Air Pollution

1. Treated air pollution as a governance challenge, not an environmental afterthought—requiring coordinated state action across sectors.
2. Adopted a centralised clean-air action plan with clear targets, strict  timelines, and institutional accountability.
3. Implemented multi-sector reforms simultaneously—energy transition, industrial restructuring, transport reforms, and construction controls.
4. Ensured strong enforcement, real-time monitoring, and transparency to track progress.
5. Backed reforms with substantial public investment in clean energy, EVs, mass transit, and cleane industrial technology.

What Delhi Can Learn from Beijing ??

1. Unified Clean Air Mission: Create a single NCR-wide command structure with time-bound targets covering transport, industry, energy, and construction.
2. Transport Transformation: Rapid expansion of metro/bus fleets, last-mile  EVs; reduce private vehicle dependence through congestion and parking management.
3. Industrial & Energy Reforms: Relocate/retrofit polluting units; enforce strict emission norms; phase down dirty fuels in NCR periphery and shift to cleaner energy sources.
4. Dust & Construction Management: Strict controls on construction emissions and real-time monitoring of hotspots.
5. Robust Enforcement & Transparency: Rigorous inspections, emissions monitoring, public dashboards, and penalties for non-compliance.
6. Investment-Backed Action: Prioritise funding for clean energy, EV  infrastructure, and pollution-control technology—making clean air a strategic state objective.