According to http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/, the border standoff was caused by a dispute over and 11th century temple that straddles the Thailand-Cambodia border that each country has claimed as their own. Cambodia has claimed that Thai troops have crossed the border. Thai forces occupied the temple while Cambodia was under French rule, but since Cambodia has become an independent country the Cambodian government has asked the International Court of Justice to rule that the temple is in Cambodian territory. The International Court of Justice ruled that the temple was on Cambodian land.

Soon afterward, according to www.foxnews.com, Thai troops deployed to the border. The army has been tight lipped about reasons behind the troop movements, saying only that it is protecting Thai sovereignty, though it's unclear why it thought it was threatened. According to www.telegraph.co.uk, "hundreds of troops and artillery have been facing each other across the heavily mined frontier since the crisis erupted in July." Both sides insist they are ready for war to protect what each regards as their own territory. According to www.foxnews.com, "the only clashes so far have been between Thai protesters and Thai villagers who resent their lands becoming ground-zero for a political and religious battle."