{"id":2156,"date":"2025-10-27T07:45:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T22:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forum2050.com\/?p=2156"},"modified":"2026-10-13T16:54:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T07:54:39","slug":"forum2050-newsletter-october-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forum2050.com\/en\/2025\/10\/27\/forum2050-newsletter-october-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum2050 Newsletter, October 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear supporters,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hello.
This is Takuzo Komabashiri, PR officer for Forum2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, autumn must be well advanced by now, but here in Cambodia the hot days continue as always. Since it has not been widely reported in Japan, many of you may not know, but Cambodia is now in a border conflict with Thailand, which has become a serious source of concern for both countries. In August, Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN, stepped in to mediate, and President Trump also called for a ceasefire, so the situation began to calm down. However, it is still smoldering. People say a new war has broken out in Southeast Asia, which had been calm in the 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and we will need to keep a close eye on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It began in May this year, when the two armies clashed near the Preah Vihear Temple on the border between the two countries, and one Cambodian soldier was killed. The temple is officially recognized by the international community as Cambodian territory, but the Thai side does not seem to accept this. Sporadic clashes continued after that, and in July they grew into a large-scale conflict. The Thai military sent F-16 fighter jets to attack Cambodian military positions, and the situation went beyond border skirmishes to what could fairly be called a war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Around
Around the Preah Vihear Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Preah Vihear Temple and its surroundings (looking toward the Thai side)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Around
Around the Preah Vihear Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Preah Vihear Temple and its surroundings (looking toward the Thai side)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phnom Penh is peaceful right now and nothing seems amiss, but an uneasy atmosphere has begun to spread across the country: imports from Thailand have stopped, customers no longer go to Thai-owned gas stations and convenience stores, and the boat races of the Water Festival, the country’s biggest event, have been canceled. In addition, 300,000 Cambodians who had gone to work in Thailand were forced to return home, and many still cannot find work. In our previous newsletter (September issue), Igor, Vice Chairman of the Japan-Ukraine Friendship Association KRAIANY, told us that “events that take away peace can come suddenly to anyone.” Igor also sent us this message: “Young people of Japan, please, from this very moment, keep making efforts to protect your precious peace, so that you never find yourselves in a situation where you ‘have to win peace back.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Boat
Boat races held at the Water Festival in November 2024. It has been decided that they will be canceled in 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boat races held at the Water Festival in November 2024. It has been decided that they will be canceled in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This October 2025 issue of our newsletter brings you a report on the hands-on workshop “Peace as ‘Our Own Concern,’ Thinking Together with the Next Generation,” organized by the specified nonprofit corporation Forum2050 at the 5th Education Cooperation Week in September; a message from student member Hana Miyoshi; and the monthly report from our President, Toda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions or comments about the newsletter, please let us know by email or other means. Requests such as “I’d like to know more about this” are very welcome too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topics in This Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n