Asia 911
MID#3603
Dispute Number: 3603
Date(s): June 25, 1977
Participants: 816 Vietnam/800 Thailand
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On June 25, 1977, two Communist Vietnamese gunboats attacked three
Thai fishing boats in the Gulf of Siam (Vietnamese territorial waters) near Poulo Pan-
jang island, about 80 miles from the Vietnamese coast. The first trawler, Chaipichit-
navy 9, was attacked with gunfire, killing three fishermen and presumably 19 crewmen
as it sank. The second, Phetprasertsak 3, was captured along with 20 crewmen. The
third escaped.
MID#3920
Dispute Number: 3920
Date(s): January 20, 1989 to July 21, 1989
Participants: 816 Vietnam/800 Thailand
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes battles between the then-ruling Cambodian regime
and the Vietnam-ousted Khmer Rouge, whose refugees had fled to Thailand. Vietnam
had been occupying Cambodia since their invasion in 1978. Cambodian forces, backed
by Vietnamese forces, were responsible for several incidents of bombings, artillery
fire, and attacks along the Cambodian-Thai border, often spilling into Thai territory.
Thailand suspected the increased use of force was designed to hurt the Khmer Rouge
as much as possible before September 30, 1989, when Vietnam had promised to pull
out of its occupation in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge rebels began with an assault within
Cambodia in November 1988. Clashes between Vietnamese/Cambodian forces and
Khmer Rouge rebels continued within Cambodian as the Khmer Rouge were driven
into Thailand. The first incident in Thailand occurred on February 20, 1989, near the
Thai border town of Aranyaprathet.
Cross-border attacks continued almost until Vietnam’s withdrawal of troops on
September 27, 1989, but government clashes with Khmer Rouge still continued within
Cambodia.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from January 23, 1989. End Date changed from
July 22, 1989.
MID#4008
Dispute Number: 4008
Date(s): May 31, 1995
Participants: 816 Vietnam/800 Thailand