The Telegraph
It is not clear whether it was Thailand or Cambodia that had broken their fragile ceasefire on Monday.
But as tensions flared, Cambodia’s decision to move a Chinese PHL-03 MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) closer to the contested border had Thailand scrambling .
With a range of 81 miles, a provincial airport and district hospital could be within reach of the mobile rocket launcher – so Bangkok moved to pre-emptively hit military depots with air strikes.
Rear-Adml Surasant Kongsiri, a spokesman for Thailand’s defence ministry, told Reuters: “Based on our intelligence as well, there have been attempts to lock on the co-ordinates of these facilities.” He also claimed the strikes had been successful.
The strikes emphasise the role Chinese-made weapons have played in escalating tensions, even as Beijing calls for peace between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.