Starting next year, Cambodian men will be required to serve in the military as part of a new effort to bolster national defense amid escalating border tensions with Thailand. Relations between the two countries have been strained since May, when a long-standing territorial dispute led to cross-border clashes, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier.
Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged the situation as a wake-up call. “This episode of confrontation is a lesson for us and an opportunity for us to review, assess, and set our targets to reform our military,” he said.
The Military Conscription Law, originally approved in 2006, mandates men aged 18 to 30 to serve 18 months in the armed forces, but it was never enforced until now. Service for women has remained voluntary.
Hun Manet announced that the new law will extend the conscription period from 18 to 24 months. The increase aims to provide comprehensive training, improve logistical support, and streamline administrative processes, according to the Khmer Times.
The revised law also seeks to ensure that recent recruits are integrated into the reserve forces, maintaining an adequate pool of trained personnel. After completing their service, conscripts can return to civilian life but will remain part of the reserve force ready for mobilization if needed.
Additionally, the Prime Minister pledged to consider increasing Cambodia’s defense budget, emphasizing that the country’s military build-up is solely for territorial protection, not for invasion. “Our national defense and the building of our military are not to invade anybody’s territory but it is to protect our territory,” he stated.
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