The Burapha Task Force reported that the incident occurred at 5:50am. Border patrol officials heard an explosion from a forested area about 90 metres away from Sri Phen Road along the Thai-Cambodian border, reports the Bangkok Post.
Thai authorities deployed a drone to assess the situation and discovered a man injured by a landmine and calling for help in English.
The Humanitarian Mine Action unit was dispatched to the scene, providing assistance with the support of patrol personnel.
The man was later identified by a passport found on him as Shi Jingui, 26, from Yunnan province in China. He was believed to have crossed the border into Thailand illegally, according to the First Army Area.
The incident took place in an area that has been a major flashpoint in the border dispute that led to five days of armed conflict in July. It is currently the object of mine clearance operations by Thai authorities, the army said.
The man was receiving treatment at Khoksung Hospital in the eastern border province and his condition was stable, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok said in a statement.
The embassy said it would continue to follow up and coordinate with the hospital as well as with the relevant Thai agencies, and would offer the necessary assistance to the Chinese national.
The army said the case would be further investigated by the Sa Kaeo Immigration Police, as the victim might have been linked to illegal cyber-scam networks.
Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, the Royal Thai Army spokesman, said the incident highlighted the persistent risks from landmines planted by Cambodian troops along the border.
Eighteen Thai soldiers have been injured by landmines, with seven losing limbs, since mid-July.
The mine involved in the latest incident is being examined to determine if was newly planted, Maj Gen Winthai said.
Though a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia failed to cooperate with Thailand on joint clearance efforts along the border, with interference reported in many areas, he said.
“This incident underscored the brutality of landmines which harm both military personnel and civilians, regardless of nationality, and highlighted Cambodia’s lack of accountability in resolving the issue.”
The Thai army expects that the mounting evidence shown by the Thai side would lead to consequences for Cambodia’s violent actions, Maj Gen Winthai said.