Thai–Laotian Border War

Thai–Lao Border War Battle of Ban Romklao
Part of the Third Indochina War that was part of the Cold War
เนิน 1428 (Hill 1428), the battlefield of Thai–Lao Border War of 1988, view from Phu Soidao National Park, Chat Trakan, Phitsanulok.
Date 15 December 1987 – 19 February 1988 (1988-02-19) Location Chat Trakan District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand Botene District, Saiyabuli Province, Lao PDR Result Thai forces claimed to have secured 70% of ground around Hill 1428, while Lao forces still held high ground. Territorial changes Return to status quo ante bellum.
Belligerents
Laos Vietnam Supported by: Soviet Union Cuba	Thailand
Commanders and leaders
Phoumi Vongvichit Trường Chinh	Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Casualties and losses
Laos: 286 soldiers killed, 200-300 soldiers wounded. Vietnam: 157 soldiers killed Soviet Union: 2 soldiers killed Cuba: 2 soldiers killed	Thailand: 147 soldiers were killed, 400 soldiers were injured. [1] 2 aircraft (February)

The Thai–Lao Border War, or known in Thai as Battle of Ban Romklao (Thai: สมรภูมิบ้านร่มเกล้า or ยุทธการบ้านร่มเกล้า; December 1987 – February 1988), was a short confrontation between Thai and Lao forces. It involved a dispute over the map made by French surveyors in 1907 to mark the borders between Siam and French Indochina in the southern Luang Prabang Range. Ownership of the village of Ban Romklao on the border of Phitsanulok Province and three small border villages on the edge of Uttaradit Province was left unclear. This is the same map underlying the Cambodian–Thai border dispute. The agreed criterion for determining ownership was the natural watershed, but the French map makers at times ignored this. As the agreed-upon river Hoeng separated into two tributaries, both parties claimed different ones as the border, which, alongside logging disputes, gave rise to this conflict.

Battle

A series of minor shooting incidents had occurred between Thai and Lao forces in 1984. In December 1987, however, Thai armed forces occupied the disputed village of Ban Romklao, raising the Thai flag over it. The government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic protested strongly, insisting the village was part of Botene District of Sainyabuli Province. Thailand replied that the village belonged to Chat Trakan District (amphoe) of Phitsanulok Province. Lao Army forces staged a night attack on the small Thai garrison, driving the Thai soldiers from the village and raising the flag of Laos in place of the Thai flag. Serious fighting followed, continuing for weeks until a cease-fire was declared on 19 February 1988.

On 15 December 1987, Thai F-5 fighter aircraft bombed Lao positions in the region and Lao officials claimed Thailand shelled up to 10 km into Sayaboury province. Frequent aerial attacks continued against the dug-in Lao alongside artillery exchanges, and by mid-January 1988 the Thais claimed to have secured 70% of ground around Hill 1428. The fighting continued in February as the Lao still retained strategic high ground, with the Thais losing two aircraft. Talks eventually occurred on the 16-17th, and a ceasefire on the 19th saw both sides retreat 3 km from the line of contact.

During the conflict on the Rom Klao battlefield 150-200 Thai soldiers died and 400-770 were injured. Thailand spent about 3,000 million baht on the Romklao Battlefield.

It is estimated that about 200-300 Laotian soldiers were killed, about 100-200 injured, and the Thais believed that there were also foreign soldiers from the Soviet Union, Vietnam, and Cuba. But the Laos government denies this. It is estimated that around 100-150 Soviet, Vietnamese and Cuban soldiers died.

Aftermath

The Thai-Lao Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) was established in 1996 to clarify the 1,810-kilometre boundary and settle ownership of the disputed villages. The Mekong River forms 955km of this boundary, and the Hueang River forms 153km, leaving 702km of land borders to be discussed. As of 2022, 96% of the land border between the two countries had been successfully demarcated.