The Thai-Cambodian conflict’s impacts on the region’s Japanese auto industry are a good example for how seemingly small disputes between ASEAN members can have large and complex implications for the region and the world.
Globalization is a powerful force in today’s world, supporting increasing cost efficiency and maximizing productivity, competitiveness and development; however, the downside in such an interconnected economic world is small problems can metastasize and affect the world in unforeseeable ways.
The longer Thai aggression goes unchecked, and the longer the border dispute continues, the greater the direct and indirect impacts to regional and international economies.
YOUK CHHANG
Director
Documentation Center of Cambodia
June 2, 2026
