The conflict with Cambodia is also likely to cost Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (38) her office. Her downfall was a secretly recorded telephone conversation she had in mid-June with the mastermind of Cambodian politics – former Prime Minister Hun Sen.

In a telephone conversation, which was supposed to be about defusing the border conflict between the two countries, Shinawatra addressed the 72-year-old Cambodian – a friend of the family – confidentially as"Uncle" and made derogatory comments about his own army, which enjoys great respect in Thailand.

The nine-minute audio recording, allegedly circulated by Hun Sen, sparked widespread outrage in Thailand. In early July, Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Shinawatra from her office, accepting a petition from 36 senators accusing the politician of serious ethical violations.

The suspension will remain in effect until the court makes a final determination as to whether Shinawatra acted unconstitutionally. However, a return to office is already considered unlikely – if only because important coalition partners have also turned their backs on Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.