As the Philippines takes up the 2026 Asean chairmanship, ongoing tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border have renewed scrutiny of the bloc’s ability to manage conflicts among its members and uphold its role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Long-standing disputes over an 800km stretch of border territory have led to intermittent lethal conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.

The latest hostilities have escalated deep into Cambodia’s interior, resulting in significant casualties and a humanitarian crisis involving nearly one million displaced persons.

Cambodian analyst Panhavuth Long said the border tensions have affected Asean’s image as a...