Thailand's government on brink of collapse after key coalition party withdraws support following leaked call
Political leaks are usually damaging but rarely bring a government to the brink of collapse.
A leaked phone call has done just that in Thailand.
The chat between Thailand's prime minister and a former Cambodian leader comes as the relationship sours over a border dispute that has stemmed from the death of a soldier.
Here's how a soldier's death and a leaked phone call have brought a government to its knees.
Late last month, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish in a contested zone known as the "Emerald Triangle", where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet.
Both the Thai and Cambodian armies said they acted in self-defence.
The dispute dates back to the early 20th Century and the drawing up of the 800-kilometre frontier during the French occupation of the region.
Parts of the border are not defined, with three temples also forming part of the dispute.
Cambodia on Sunday asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on the dispute.
It has repeatedly called on Thailand to join the proceedings, but Bangkok does not recognise the ICJ's jurisdiction.
The killing of the soldier by Thai forces prompted a mobilisation of forces on both sides of the border.
Both countries called for calm while also vowing to defend their sovereignty.
Thailand tightened border controls with Cambodia, prompting former Cambodian leader Hun Sen — father of current prime minister Hun Manet — to speak out.
He blamed Thai "extremists" and the Thai army for stoking tensions and said the Thai government was "unable to control its military the way our country can".
When Thailand did not reinstate normal border activity, Cambodia banned imports of fruit and vegetables along with all Thai drama from TV and cinemas, closed a popular border checkpoint and cut internet bandwidth from its neighbour.
Both sides had held meetings at the weekend to try and diffuse the situation.
Thailand said progress had been made to de-escalate tensions.
But after Hun Sen's remarks on Monday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said her country would not be bullied or threatened, and warned that "unofficial" communication would harm diplomatic efforts.
Ms Paetongtarn has faced criticism over her diplomatic response to the crisis, which contrasts with the military's tough rhetoric.
Thailand's prime minister came to power in 2024 as head of an awkward coalition made up of the Pheu Thai party and a group of conservative, pro-military parties whose members have spent much of the last 20 years battling against her father, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The phone call between Thailand's prime minister and Hun Sen was leaked to the media on Wednesday, but was held on Monday.
Hun Sen said the leak came from one of the 80 politicians he shared the audio recording with.
In the conversation, Ms Paetongtarn is heard discussing the border crisis and complains about the bad publicity she was facing as a result.
She called Hun Sen "uncle" and urged him not to listen to "the opposite side", including a prominent Thai military commander at the border.
"He [the Thai general] just want to look cool and saying things that are not useful to the nation, but in truth what we want is peace," she told Hun Sen through a translator in the leaked audio clip.
Ms Paetongtarn later told reporters her conversation with Hun Sen was part of a negotiation tactic and she had no problem with the Thai army.
"I won't be talking privately with him [Hun Sen] anymore because there is a trust problem," she said.
Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, commander of Thailand's Second Army Area overseeing the eastern border, on Wednesday told local media that Ms Paetongtarn had called him to explain the leak.
"I don't have any issue, I understand," General Boonsin said.
However, the damage was done and the reaction to the call was swift.
The second-biggest member of the Thai government's ruling alliance, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, pulled out of the coalition on Wednesday.
In a statement, it said Ms Paetongtarn had "damaged the sovereignty and well-being of the country and Thai Army".
Thailand's ruling coalition lost 69 active members immediately, leaving Ms Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party with barely enough votes to form a majority.
If any other coalition partner withdrew, it would put Thailand on course for another election.
The last poll was barely two years ago in 2023.
ABC/wires
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