WITHOUT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, THERE WILL BE NO KHMER SOLIDARITY

 

 

Opinion by Anonymous 

 

Khmer people should stop crying and complaining about Hun Sen. They have to fight for social justice. The first step is fighting for free and fair elections by peacefully marching in 2027 to demand that the government free all political prisoners, reform the National Election Committee (NEC), and reinstate the CNRP. If Khmer people are afraid to do this peaceful demonstration, they must stop crying and continuing to live under this ignorant Hun Sen's foot.

Khmer people must select a JUST CAUSE and THE RIGHT TIME to fight.

How to transfer the power peacefully and successfully in Cambodia?

Hun Sen was installed by Vietnam to execute the Vietnamization of Cambodia policy. Hun Sen never hesitated to do whatever was necessary to please his master Vietnam and maintain his grip on power.
 

Many Khmer people have lamented that we cannot win through a general election. This has been true when we have allowed Hun Sen to do whatever he wanted.

For example, in 2017, we allowed Hun Sen to dissolve the CNRP without facing any consequences
To overcome this major obstacle, we must pick a just cause and the right time to fight for.

Notice that the commune election will be held in 2027 and the general election in 2028.

We should take the following steps to achieve our goal.

In early 2027, the Khmer people should stage a peaceful demonstration to demand the release of all political prisoners, NEC reforms, and the reinstatement of the CNRP.

AOT Under Philippines Leadership Launches First Mission at Preah Vihear

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 14, 2026 — An ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) began its first border monitoring mission at Preah Vihear Temple on Thursday as Cambodia reiterated its commitment to implementing ceasefire agreements and restoring stability along the Cambodia-Thailand frontier.

According to a statement issued by Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, the mission marked the first deployment of the Head of Mission of the ASEAN Observer Team under the Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN.

The Cambodian Liaison Group facilitated the visit at around 8:40 a.m., with the team tasked with observing, verifying and reporting on the border situation around Preah Vihear Temple in Choam Ksan district.

The mission also aims to assess recent developments in the area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site, which Cambodia said suffered severe damage during military attacks by Thai forces in 2025.

Cambodian authorities said the observer team's role in monitoring implementation of the ceasefire was intended to improve transparency, accountability and mutual trust between Cambodia and Thailand.

The statement said the initiative was aimed at supporting a return to normal conditions and promoting long-term peace, stability and security along the border.

Cambodia also expressed support for strengthening the observer team’s role and mandate in future peace efforts.

The Royal Government and Ministry of National Defence reaffirmed what they described as a firm commitment to fully implementing the Joint Statement of the third Special General Border Committee meeting signed on Dec. 27, 2025, the Cambodia-Thailand Peace Agreement signed on Oct. 26, 2025, and other related agreements.

Officials said the measures were intended to accelerate recovery and restore security and stability for communities living along the border areas of both countries.

Sambor Prei Kuk: Older Than Angkor Wat - But Not For the Reasons You Think!

The Diving Game and the "Talk and Take" Strategy: The Reality Behind the Veil of Friendship and Cambodia’s Legal Readiness

  

Opinion | Cambodia Insights
Guest Writer: Panhavuth LONG, Lawyer, PAN & Associates Law Firm 
4:06 PM, May 12, 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – In the chess game of regional geopolitics, nothing happens by chance. The return of Thaksin Shinawatra and the exploitation of the "brotherhood" bond, occurring exactly when the Bangkok government faces internal economic pressures and mounting tensions over the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU44), is not merely a matter of sentiment. It is a sharp, calculated strategy that demands Cambodia to analyze the situation with pragmatism, independence, and an absolute readiness in the realm of international law. Although the "diving game" metaphor suggests that Cambodia currently holds the upper hand and a longer breath than its counterpart, we must not forget a fundamental law of politics: "A cornered beast always reacts most dangerously."

1. The "Friendship" Card and the Danger of a Cornered State
When a country faces a severe economic crisis and urgently needs energy resources from the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA), it may resort to any strategy necessary. Using personal relationships and calling for peaceful negotiations is merely the initial "soft power" maneuver. If this persuasion fails to sway the firm stance of Cambodia’s leadership, the other side is likely to shift its strategy toward economic pressure, border provocations, or unilateral legal interpretations.

2. Brotherhood Bond vs. National Ideals: Cambodia Puts Sovereignty First
In the realm of politics and diplomacy, personal sentiments or a "brotherhood bond" can only serve as a lubricant to ease the atmosphere of communication; they can never replace or stand above national ideals. Any attempt to leverage private affection as a tool for psychological coercion in determining a nation's destiny is a gross underestimation of the other state's will and sovereignty. For Cambodia, the choice is clear and irreversible: regardless of how valuable a personal friendship may be, Cambodia will always choose to stand firmly on the principle of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity first and foremost. National interests, legal authority, and the survival of a sovereign state are not commodities to be traded at the negotiation table under the pressure of the word "brotherhood."

Phnom Penh Calls Thai Temple Registration ‘Illegal and Baseless’

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 13, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has strongly protested Thailand’s decision to register several ancient temple sites along the disputed border in Thailand’s national register of monuments, calling the move illegal and a violation of Cambodian sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry rejected Thailand’s registration of the Tamone Temple Complex, Ta Krabey Temple, K’Nar Temple and other archaeological sites that Cambodia says are situated within its sovereign territory.

The ministry said the unilateral action was “illegal, null, and without legal effect,” adding that such registration could not serve as evidence of territorial sovereignty or border delimitation.

Cambodia stressed that border demarcation issues between the two countries must be resolved in accordance with international law, including the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty and existing bilateral mechanisms such as the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, the 2003 Terms of Reference and the Joint Boundary Commission process.

The ministry described Thailand’s registration effort as an unlawful attempt to create “an artificial legal appearance” over cultural sites located in Cambodian territory.

“This action constitutes a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermines the spirit of peaceful dialogue and mutual respect between the two countries,” the statement said.

The Cambodian government called on Thailand to immediately withdraw the registration and refrain from further unilateral actions that could undermine efforts toward a peaceful settlement of border issues.

Cambodia also reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all outstanding disputes peacefully and in full respect of international law and bilateral mechanisms.

The statement comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over border and maritime disputes in recent weeks.

Reassessing Ancient Cambodia: Live Presentation from the Quest for Ancient Civilizations Conference

Rare Dolphin Family Spotted in Cambodia’s Kampot Marine Conservation Area

 

KAMPOT, May 10, 2026 — A rare family of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins has been spotted in protected coastal waters in Cambodia’s Kampot province, in what conservationists say is another positive sign of improving marine biodiversity.

Drone footage captured the dolphins swimming together in the waters of the Prek Tnaot fishing community, showing two adult dolphins gently touching snouts while a juvenile circled nearby, according to local conservation officials.

Researchers identified the animals as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, a species considered vulnerable in many parts of Asia due to habitat loss, pollution and fishing activity.
Officials said the sighting reflected the strong social bonds and peaceful behaviour of the dolphins within a protected marine conservation area.

Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration, under the Ministry of Agriculture, has been working with Marine Conservation Cambodia and local authorities to strengthen marine conservation efforts along the country’s coastline.
As part of the programme, authorities have deployed artificial reef structures made from stone blocks across several conservation zones to create habitats for marine biodiversity.

Conservation officials said the artificial reef initiative, launched in 2023, has contributed to increasing fish stocks and marine species populations while supporting sustainable fisheries for local communities.

Marine researchers have in recent months also reported growing numbers of vulnerable marine species, including seahorses, in Cambodia’s coastal waters, which they say indicates improving ecosystem stability in protected areas. 

Cambodians struggle with displaced lives amid tense ceasefire with Thailand

 

Families displaced by recent border war fear renewed clashes with Thailand, say their children’s education among areas most affected by conflict.

 

Kam Pin holds her daughter and sits on a hammock outside her tent in the internal displacement camp at Preah Vihear province's Wat Bak Kam on April 10, 2026 [Roun Ry/Al Jazeera]
 

 

By Danielle Keeton-Olsen, Roun Ry
Published On 9 May 20269 May 2026

Preah Vihear/Siem Reap provinces – When asked how she spends her day, 11-year-old Sokna rattled off a list of chores.

She first fetches water, then washes dishes and sweeps the leaves and dust from around the blue tarpaulin tent her family now calls home, in the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda in northwestern Cambodia.

Sokna and her sister have stopped attending school, their mother Puth Reen said, since moving to this camp for people displaced by the recent rounds of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

The two sisters are among more than 34,440 people who remain in displacement camps in Cambodia – 11,355 of whom are children – as of this month, according to the country’s Ministry of Interior.

“I tried to tell them to go to school, but they don’t go,” Puth Reen told Al Jazeera, explaining how precarious life had become since returning to live in Cambodia after fleeing neighbouring Thailand, where she had worked for many years, as the fighting started.

ការឆ្លើយតបទៅកាន់ ព័ត៌មានសៀម នឹង បុគ្គលពា/ល

 

How this obnoxious person currently becomes the national icon of Thailand and its attacks against Cambodia is beyond me. His actions in the course of the border conflict reveal the ugliest, most reprehensible face of Thai ultra-nationalism, not least the use of raw sewage (or the intent to do so) and the playing on loud speakers of high pitch sounds directed at Khmer villagers including the elderly, pregnant women and minors. I would say that your ability to communicate directly to Thai audience in their language is one of your greatest weapons in this war through defence of truth. 

I would encourage you and others as well as the Cambodian government to also target the ethnic Khmers or Khmer-speaking population in Thailand by relaying online messages to them directly. The Cambodian government should set up a specialist unit whose mission is dedicated to enlisting and galvanising the hearts and minds of these Khmer brothers and sisters in Thailand. If the Thais have managed to win them over to their side despite not sharing the same bloodline or ancestry then the possibility to win them over to the side of their actual mother land and brothers and sisters should be a much more realisable aim. Winning them over to Cambodia's side would represent half the battle won. 

-Social media 

 

Cambodia Could Overtake Thailand Economically and Demographically Within 75 Years, Expert Says

 

 

 

— Cambodia could surpass Thailand in both economic output and population size within the next 75 years if it adopts effective long term policies, according to Casey Barnett, a former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia. 

 

He warned that without decisive reforms, the country’s demographic and economic advantages could erode.

 

Barnett noted Cambodia has consistently recorded stronger growth than Thailand over the past decade, with GDP expanding by an average of 5.5% annually from 2015 to 2025, compared with about 2% in Thailand.

 

In 2025 alone, Cambodia’s economy grew by at least 4.8%, while Thailand managed only 2.1%. Fertility rates also point to a demographic edge, with Cambodia at 2.5 births per woman compared with 1.2 in Thailand.

 

To sustain momentum, Barnett proposed extending maternity leave, offering childcare vouchers, expanding health coverage to include fertility treatments, and providing $3,000 incentives for couples having a third or fourth child.

 

He cautioned against military conscription, saying it could weaken GDP growth, and urged attracting overseas Cambodians and foreign professionals through long term visas and residency incentives.

Barnett said financing could come from stronger property tax collection, noting Cambodia’s current rate is far below international standards. He stressed that adopting such measures would allow Cambodia to protect labor productivity, strengthen family support, and position itself to eventually close the gap with Thailand.

--------------

By: In Sopheng

©KPT English

Hun Manet Announces UNCLOS Action Following Thai Withdrawal

 

 

BREAKING: Hun Manet Announces UNCLOS Action Following Thai Withdrawal

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 5, 2026 — Cambodia has decided to pursue compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve its maritime dispute with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday, after Bangkok unilaterally withdrew from a long-standing bilateral agreement.

 

In a statement posted on his official social media page, Hun Manet said the move followed Thailand’s decision to exit the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU2001), which for more than two decades had served as the sole bilateral framework for managing overlapping maritime claims between the two countries.

 

The Cambodian leader described the withdrawal as a setback to cooperation, noting the MoU had reflected “mutual goodwill” and provided a foundation for peaceful dialogue.

 

“With the unilateral withdrawal, Cambodia is left with no choice but to rely on international law,” he said, adding that Phnom Penh would turn to mechanisms under UNCLOS, particularly compulsory conciliation, to seek a resolution.

 

Hun Manet stressed that the process is designed to facilitate peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, expressing hope it would lead to a “just and lasting solution” that ensures stability and harmony between the two nations.

 

The development marks a significant shift from bilateral engagement to an international legal pathway in addressing the long-running maritime dispute. Thai authorities have not yet publicly responded to Cambodia’s latest move.

Cambodia to pursue compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS if Thailand revokes MoU

National
04 May, 2026Raksmey Hong

ppp 

 

 

Foreign ministry secretary of state Kung Phoak Cambodia has expressed Cambodia’s ‘deep disappointment’ over Bangkok’s planned unilateral withdrawal from a 2001 maritime MoU. AKP
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Cambodia has announced its intention to pursue a compulsory conciliation mechanism under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), should Thailand proceed with plans to revoke the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding, a senior foreign affairs official has said, signalling a shift from bilateral negotiations to international legal channels.

In a special interview broadcast on state-run Television of Cambodia (TVK) on May 3, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kung Phoak expressed “deep disappointment” over reports that Bangkok is preparing to unilaterally terminate the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2001).

He explained that the framework has underpinned maritime negotiations between the two countries for more than two decades.

“We are very disappointed that the Thai side is considering unilaterally withdrawing from the MOU 2001,” he said, describing the agreement as “the only bilateral framework that both parties have relied upon for more than two decades” to manage overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand.

វីដេអូដ៏គួរឱ្យក្នាញ់នៃកូនផ្សោតកើតថ្មីអាយុប្រមាណ៣-៤ថ្ងៃ

Cambodia Says It Will Keep Raising Border Issues Until Violations Stop

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, April 30 — Cambodia has defended its continued public statements on border tensions with Thailand, saying they are necessary to address alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement and to protect national sovereignty.

 

Responding to suggestions that both sides should avoid rhetoric that could hinder relations, Prak Sokhonn said Thai military actions on the ground remain the core issue.

 

He said that since the ceasefire agreement reached on Dec. 27, 2025, Thai forces have continued to occupy areas inside Cambodian territory and have restricted local residents from returning to their homes.

Sokhonn added that some locations were reportedly blocked, preventing access to villages, which they said contradicts commitments made under the joint statement of the General Border Committee.

 

He said Phnom Penh has raised the issue through diplomatic channels, including official statements and engagements at international forums.

 

Prak Sokhonn stressed that Cambodia had exercised restraint to preserve the ceasefire and pursue peaceful solutions, but said it could not remain silent on matters affecting territorial integrity and the rights of its citizens.

 

Cambodia said it would continue to speak out unless the alleged actions cease, reiterating its commitment to resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements.

 

If a larger country can simply decide a smaller neighbor’s border no longer exists, is any country truly safe?…

 

All these Western embassies in Phnom Penh must be fully aware of what is happening and yet are apparently turning the other way for some reasons? Even countries within ASEAN are effectively in hiding. The likes of Singapore were once most vociferous in protesting Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia but today where are they? 

This is about more than the leadership of Cambodia or whether this leadership is palatable to the world community or not; more than whether Thailand is occupying a few hectares of Cambodian territory or several km squares. It's about a most basic, fundamental principle governing a peaceful, civilised world being grossly violated in broad daylight. This is an unashamed reversion to feudal times when Siam was terrorising Cambodia and other weaker nations at will and without punitive repercussions. 

 -Social media 

 

 

Cambodia deports more than 600 Thais linked to cyberscams: minister

AFP
Thu, April 30, 2026 at 12:49 PM GMT+1
2 min read

  

A general view shows the Poipet International border checkpoint between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025 (TANG CHHIN Sothy)
(TANG CHHIN Sothy/AFP/AFP)

Cambodia deported more than 600 Thais allegedly involved in online scams on Thursday, the information minister said, part of a crackdown against the multibillion-dollar illicit industry that has ballooned in the country in recent years.

Cambodia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running fake romantic relationship and cryptocurrency investment schemes in which scammers -- some willing, others trafficked -- defraud internet users around the world.

Operated out of hotels, casinos and fortified compounds around the region, the global cyberscam industry has reached "industrial proportions", with estimates of its annual revenues as high as $64 billion, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra told AFP "635 Thai nationals involved in illegal online business operations and transnational criminal networks were deported to Thailand" through a border checkpoint on Thursday.

Leader of Cambodia's defunct opposition loses appeal against treason conviction, lawyer says

By Reuters

April 30, 20265:28 AM GMT+1Updated 14 hours ago

  

Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha greets as he leaves the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh, Cambodia January 16, 2020. REUTERS/Samrang Pring/ File Photo 

    Summary

    Kem Sokha gets additional 5-year travel ban added to 27-year term
    Crackdown wipes out Cambodia's opposition, ruling CPP uncontested
    Western embassies disappointed, urge Cambodia to create space for opposition

PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Reuters) - A Cambodian appeals court on ​Thursday upheld a 27-year sentence for former opposition leader Kem Sokha for his treason ‌conviction, his lawyer said, another blow to an opposition decimated by the ruling party's long-running crackdown.

Kem Sokha, 72, co-founder of the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been held under house arrest since he was found guilty of treason in March 2023. ​He was accused of conspiring with a foreign power to topple then-premier Hun Sen.

The court upheld ​that verdict and banned Kem Sokha from leaving Cambodia for five years once his ⁠term ends, his lawyer said.

"We regret this decision," Pheng Heng told reporters. "Under this circumstance, the government ruled ​by the Cambodian People's Party should seek national reconciliation and today's decision is not as expected."

Kem Sokha's case ​was among the most prominent in a sweeping crackdown on opponents of the CPP, which has ruled the Southeast Asian country for more than four decades. The United States said at the time that his conviction was based on "fabricated conspiracy theories".

China–Cambodia 2+2 Dialogue Is a Strategic Turning Point

 

On April 22, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (2nd R) and Defence Minister Tea Seiha (R), together with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) and China's Defence Minister Dong Jun (L), co-chaired the First Meeting of the “2+2” Strategic Dialogue between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of National Defence of Cambodia and China, in Phnom Penh. Photo: MFA 

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun visited Cambodia for the first "2+2" strategic dialogue, meeting top leaders including Acting Head of State Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

On April 22, China and Cambodia inaugurated their first "2+2" Strategic Dialogue in Phnom Penh. The meeting involved foreign and defense ministers and aimed to deepen political and security ties and bilateral cooperation. 

There are reports that this framework may expand to a "3+3" structure, adding interior ministers from both countries. This would signify deeper, more institutionalized cooperation between China and Cambodia.

Through this new diplomatic initiative, China is demonstrating an intention to expand its engagement with Cambodia beyond economic issues, shifting toward a partnership also focused on political and security collaboration.

FM Wang Yi told reporters that China is willing to develop the mechanism into a “strategic platform” for enhancing political and defense security cooperation. 

He described the 2+2 strategic engagement with Cambodia as a key instrument for cementing mutual assistance and solidarity and advancing the construction of a China-Cambodia “community with a shared future”.

Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred to house arrest

 

Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred to house arrest, the country’s military-controlled state media announced Thursday.

 

The 80-year old state counselor was moved from Naypyidaw prison to “the designated residence” to serve the remainder of her sentence, state-run MRTV reported without specifying exactly where this residence was.

 

State media also showed a the first public photo of the former leader in several years. She was at a table with men in military and police.

 

RFA 

 

Most of Thai People Name Cambodia as #Scambodia and Why Chinese Ambassador Put High Alert on Scam in Bangkok?

 

Phnom Penh – Scams do not only occur in Cambodia; this is not a localized issue but rather a regional problem affecting multiple Southeast Asian nations. Nevertheless, Thai social media has adopted a favourite pastime: deriding Cambodia with the hashtag #Scambodia. The epithet circulates widely, prompting indignation from Cambodian media. However, while Thai netizens engage in mockery, the Chinese government has quietly issued a high-level alert regarding scam risks—not in Phnom Penh, but in Bangkok.

During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to the Thai capital, the Chinese embassy released an unusually sharp advisory. It stated that "many Chinese nationals were recently lured to areas along the Thai-Myanmar border to take part in criminal activities." Travelers were urged to exercise vigilance. Notably, the alert was issued in Thailand's capital, not Cambodia's.

Thailand Turns to China, Russia as U.S. Offers No Help Over Iran War Fallout

BANGKOK, April 28, 2026 — Thailand’s foreign minister said the United States had offered no meaningful assistance to help the country cope with the economic fallout from the war involving Iran, despite Bangkok being a longstanding U.S. treaty ally.

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thailand had been affected by disruptions to fuel and fertilizer supplies linked to the conflict, creating added pressure on the economy.

According to the minister, Washington’s main response had been to offer sales of U.S. oil rather than broader support measures.

The remarks highlight growing frustration in Bangkok as Thailand seeks alternative partners to cushion the impact of global instability.

Thai officials said the country had turned to Russia for crude oil and fertilizer supplies, while also seeking China’s support over shipping concerns linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
Sihasak also reportedly questioned the reliability of U.S. policy, contrasting it with what he described as China’s steadier engagement in the region.

Thailand is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, but like several Southeast Asian nations has increasingly pursued a balanced foreign policy while deepening economic ties with China.

The comments come as governments across Asia face rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures linked to wider geopolitical tensions.
The Washington Post

Beyond the Protest Note: A Strategic Offensive Against Thailand’s Territorial Creep

 

Geopolitics Commentary | Cambodia Insights 
12:42 PM, April 26, 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – In geopolitical conflict, the state that dictates the arena often dictates the outcome. For years, Thailand has managed to confine tensions along its border with Cambodia to a localized, physical domain—where tactical advantages can be asserted incrementally—while simultaneously relying on bilateral diplomatic mechanisms to limit broader international scrutiny. The events of April 18 suggest that this dynamic is no longer sustainable for Phnom Penh.

According to Cambodian authorities, Thai military units undertook a series of unilateral activities across sensitive frontier areas. These reportedly included land-clearing operations in parts of Pursat province, renewed construction near Boundary Pillar No. 2 in Oddar Meanchey, bunker excavation at the Chup Koki checkpoint, and the establishment of an observation post in proximity to the Preah Vihear Temple, an area of long-standing historical and legal sensitivity. Cambodia has formally protested these actions, arguing that they violate the spirit, and potentially the provisions, of the 2000 and 2001 Memorandums of Understanding governing border conduct and demarcation. From Phnom Penh’s perspective, these developments are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader and increasingly discernible pattern. To respond effectively, Cambodia must first understand the strategic logic behind this pattern.
 

Deconstructing the Strategy: Incremental Change and Diplomatic Containment

Thailand’s approach, as interpreted by some analysts in Phnom Penh, appears to operate through a dual-track dynamic, one that combines physical activity on the ground with procedural management through diplomatic channels. The first track involves incremental changes to the status quo in contested or sensitive areas. Through construction, land modification, and limited deployments, facts are established on the ground in ways that may later shape negotiations. These actions are often framed as defensive or administrative in nature, though such characterizations are disputed by Cambodian officials when activities occur in areas governed by existing bilateral understandings.

The second track unfolds in parallel through formal diplomatic engagement. Mechanisms such as the Joint Boundary Commission and the Special General Border Committee, most recently convened on December 27, 2025, serve as platforms for dialogue, reaffirmation of commitments, and the management of tensions. Individually, each track can be understood within the normal functioning of border management between neighboring states. Taken together, however, and especially when physical developments closely follow diplomatic reassurances, they raise important questions about sequencing, intent, and effectiveness.

After last year’s fighting with Thailand, Cambodia readies new conscription law for men aged 18-25

 

Cambodian military members participate together with government civil servants in the country’s 70th Independence Day, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, file)
Updated 3:19 PM BST, April 24, 2026


PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A law requiring Cambodian males aged 18 to 25 to serve in the military for two years has gained Cabinet approval following two spates of deadly combat last year with neighboring Thailand.

The new draft law on conscription will replace an existing law dating from 2006 that was never implemented and no longer addresses current and future needs, a government spokesperson said Friday.

The existing law specified 30 as the maximum call-up age. Women will be allowed to serve on a voluntary basis.

Spokesperson Pen Bona said the draft law, with eight chapters and 20 articles, was adopted by the Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday.

Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.

China’s foreign and defense ministers meet with Cambodian counterparts in joint ‘2+2' dialogue

 

 

By  SOPHENG CHEANG
Updated 1:40 PM BST, April 22, 2026


PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia and China on Wednesday held their first meeting of what is called a “2+2” Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, bringing together both countries’ foreign and defense ministers to deepen mutual political and security ties.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun are visiting Cambodia to hold talks with their counterparts, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

These talks are an initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit in April last year, aimed at boosting relations and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. China has worked to increase its sphere of influence in Southeast Asia, and initiated the ministerial-level “2+2” dialogue format with Indonesia last year.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that Wang Yi will also visit Thailand and Myanmar following his stop in Cambodia.

While in Cambodia, both Chinese ministers are also to hold separate meetings with Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet. Following the joint “2+2” meeting, Wang Yi on Thursday is scheduled to have in-depth discussions with Prak Sokhonn to discuss the implementation of existing cooperation frameworks and contributions to regional peace, security and stability.

No details of any of the meetings were immediately available from Cambodian officials.

ក្រុមស្រាវជ្រាវ និងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ (R&D) របស់ AI FARM ROBOTICS បានអភិវឌ្ឍន៍លើដ្រូនស៊ើបការណ៍ VultureGO ដោយបានប្រើប្រាស់បញ្ញាសិប្បនិម្មិត AI ក្នុងការប្រមូលយកទីតាំងបានយ៉ាងច្បាស់លាស់ ...

 

Prevention is always better than cure. It's much easier to train and nurture relevant talents and turn them into technicians or competent innovators for national defence and civilian needs or projects but the most decisive factor rests firmly with responsible leadership, political will and preparation or forward planning and vision. 

The DNA that once built thousands of stone monuments like Angkor Wat is still there in the Khmer people and is just waiting to be unlocked. 

-Social media 

The Wall Street Journal needs to apologize to the Kingdom of Cambodia for the disrespectful title

 

Foreigners including people working for international and regional media outlets such as WSJ and the 'The Diplomat' or those contributing pieces to them rarely have in-depth knowledge or lack the professionalism and integrity expected of them when reporting on these countries like Cambodia and Thailand. Vietnam for example - according ‘Reporters Without Borders’ - employs about 10,000 "opinion-shapers" online to attack, harass, distort information and gain entries into websites such as Wikipedia. Some of these individuals are operating as "free lancers" and likely paid to write such misleading reports on regional issues and a country like Cambodia. 

In recent years and long before the outbreak of the Cambodia Thailand border conflict Thailand appear also to have such people working on its payroll, doing much the same malicious work harassing and labelling anyone whose views and comments fail to align with their given agendas of defending Thai military and government representatives from a British ambassador to Cambodia posting an image of "Khmer Cakes" on his social media account to ordinary Cambodian citizens posting images of their country's traditional dress. 

Such attacks have often been personal enough to have forced their victims - such as the ambassador mentioned above - to remove his post shortly afterward! Meanwhile, Thailand's government delegations accuse Cambodia of waging a campaign of 'disinformation' over the on-going territorial dispute, including its FM and another Ministry official who travelled to Sweden to negotiate the purchase of Gripen fighter jets during the recent conflict. Sure enough some of these jets that Thailand have purchased for ostensibly "defensive" purposes had been deployed to terrorise Cambodian population and bomb historical cultural sites as well as civilian infrastructures such as bridges and administrative centres deep inside Cambodia territory of late.

-Social media 

Cambodia Rejects Thai Territorial Claims in New Protest Note

 

 

PHNOM PENH, April 19, 2026 — Cambodia has formally protested what it described as unilateral military activities by Thai armed forces along several border areas, accusing Bangkok of violating Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it had conveyed an official protest to Thailand over actions carried out on April 18, including construction works, bunker digging, land clearing and new observation posts in multiple provinces bordering Thailand.

 

The Cambodian government cited locations in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Pursat provinces, alleging Thai forces had built or expanded military-related infrastructure near sensitive frontier areas.

Among the claims, Phnom Penh said Thai troops constructed an observation post near the Preah Vihear Temple area, continued road works near Boundary Pillar No. 2 in Oddar Meanchey, dug bunkers near Chup Koki border checkpoint, and used heavy machinery for land-clearing operations in Pursat province.

 

Cambodia said the actions breached principles under the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, particularly commitments to peaceful dispute resolution, respect for sovereignty and refraining from the use of force.

Phnom Penh also rejected any attempt to portray the activities as defensive measures or as being consistent with agreements reached during the 3rd Special General Border Committee meeting on Dec. 27, 2025.

 

“The Royal Government of Cambodia does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand,” the statement said.

Cambodia called on Thailand to refrain from further unilateral steps in the affected areas, saying de-escalation was necessary to preserve peace, stability and good neighbourly relations along the shared border.

 

The government reiterated its commitment to resolving all border disputes peacefully through bilateral agreements and international law, while maintaining that borders must not be changed by force.

Thailand had not immediately responded publicly to the Cambodian statement. Border tensions between the two neighbours have periodically resurfaced over undemarcated sections of their frontier, including areas near historic temple sites.

Over 34,000 Cambodians Remain Displaced as Border Situation Persists

 

Thailand is replicating war crimes committed in the ME by their friend and ally Israel in SEA against innocent Cambodian civilians. Who displaced these people from their homes and villages in the first place, Thailand or Cambodia? Thailand's long range artillery barrage and rockets threaten communities well away from the immediate border regions, not to mention F-16 raids deep inside Cambodian territory. 

It's ok to blame the Cambodian authorities for mismanagement of the war refugee crisis but Thailand's disregard for international and humanitarian laws does not help and remains the conflict's most defining contributing factor.

-Social media

 

 

 

– More than 34,000 Cambodian civilians remain displaced along the frontier with Thailand, despite a ceasefire in place since late 2025, officials said Friday.

 

In its latest update covering April 16–17, the Ministry of Interior reported that of more than 640,000 people initially uprooted, around 94 percent—over 610,000—have returned home. However, 34,439 individuals, including 17,860 women and 11,449 children, remain unable to return due to ongoing concerns.

 

The situation persists because Thailand has not fully adhered to commitments under the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC). Cambodia continues to document developments while pursuing diplomatic and legal channels.

 

Civilian life remains disrupted in border provinces, with schools and healthcare facilities in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear still closed. No new infrastructure damage has been reported since December 2025, though recovery in previously affected areas is ongoing.

 

Officials reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the border issue peacefully, stressing that avoiding armed conflict is a top priority to prevent further harm to civilians on both sides.

 

During the recent Khmer New Year, authorities coordinated efforts to ensure safe conditions nationwide, with particular attention to displaced families in temporary shelters.

 

The ministry called on citizens to remain united and resilient, encouraging continued economic and social activity while supporting domestic production and national stability.

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By: Sopheng In

©KPT English

 

Hijacking the Peace: How Bangkok Uses Diplomatic Paralysis to Squat on Cambodian Soil

 

The article should instead be titled: ‘Sick man of SEA playing stalling tactics on his favoured platform of ‘bilateral talks’ without real talks.’ Anutin and his bosses in the army or palace have got what they want by attacking a neighbouring country so to then surrender their ill-gotten gains so soon thereafter would make them look like complete fools. 

Bangkok’s moral decay, duplicity and reputation on the international stage is about as notorious and sleazy as that of Pattaya. 

-Social media 

 

Geopolitics Commentary | Cambodia Insights

05:17 PM, April 15, 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – On April 11, the Thai government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, flatly rejected Cambodia’s diplomatic push to expedite a Joint Border Commission (JBC) meeting. This dismissal came merely days after Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Border Affairs dispatched a renewed diplomatic note on April 7, urgently requesting a special JBC session and the immediate deployment of a joint technical team to conduct empirical, on-the-ground measurements. Bangkok’s official rationale for this April 11 rejection, citing the recent transition to a new administration and the bureaucratic necessity of restructuring the Thai JBC delegation, offers a remarkably thin veil for its diplomatic inertia. While administrative transitions are a reality of governance, they cannot be perpetually invoked to suspend binding bilateral obligations. Using cabinet reshuffles and internal committee changes as a pretext to avoid empirical border measurements only reinforces the perception that Thailand is deploying bureaucratic red tape as a shield against legal accountability.

At the heart of this stalling tactic is a fundamental fear of empirical truth. The delimitation of the Cambodian-Thai border is not a mystery; it is anchored firmly in established international jurisprudence, most notably the Annex I map of the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaties, which were resoundingly validated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013. By refusing to send a joint measurement team to the physical border, Bangkok is deliberately suppressing the very mechanism that would expose its territorial encroachments. A joint, transparent measurement based on legally binding maps would strip away the ambiguity Thailand relies upon, transforming their presence from a "disputed claim" into an undeniable, documented violation of Cambodian sovereignty.

Bangkok’s Dangerous Gambit: Why Revoking MOU 2000 is an Act of International Bad Faith

 

As long as there are rogue states like Israel and Thailand around, neighbouring countries and peoples won't be able to sleep in peace for long especially when these latter show signs of vulnerabilities or are inadequately equipped to defend themselves against the former's violence and aggression. 

Why would stronger, far more powerful states completely disregard international laws and existing dispute resolution mechanisms when they have issues with smaller, weaker opponents or states? Because ultimately they are of the belief that the world is still ruled by the law of the jungle; that it is a fractured world where laws and treaties can be interpreted or eschewed altogether to align with their interests and fait accompli often rule the day or where the actual victims may never find justice. 

Btw, one keeps hearing that Cambodia is a "jungle country" and so forth but, this derogatory label must surely be far more applicable to Thailand as a violent criminal state led by its unscrupulous politicians and savage military commanders? In any case, there isn't much of any real 'jungle' left in either country these days owing to destructive commercial deforestation! 

Choose ‘peace’ but also find the practical realistic means to protect and defend it – just in case.

-Social media 

  

Geopolitics Commentary | Cambodia Insights
Panhavuth LONG, Lawyer, PAN & Associates Lawfirm
05:10 PM, April 15, 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – The prospect of Thailand revoking the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (MOU 2000) would be a watershed moment in Southeast Asian diplomacy. This is not merely a procedural withdrawal or a domestic policy adjustment; it constitutes a direct abandonment of the December 27 Peace Declaration and a profound breach of international law.

As calls for revocation grow louder within certain political circles in Bangkok, it is imperative to analyze why such a move would be viewed by the international community as an act of profound "bad faith." The current peace rests on specific legal and strategic pillars that cannot be dismantled without collapsing the entire regional security architecture.

The Legal Shield: The "Intangibility" of Boundaries

Under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), specifically Article 62, Paragraph 2, a state cannot invoke a "fundamental change of circumstances" to terminate or
withdraw from a treaty that establishes a boundary. Because MOU 2000 was signed, ratified, and deposited with the United Nations Secretariat as the definitive framework for boundary demarcation, it is legally "intangible." Any unilateral attempt by Bangkok to revoke it is a violation of pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept). In the eyes of international law, the MOU remains binding regardless of a state’s internal political "recommendations." To attempt an escape from these territorial obligations is to signal to the world that Thailand’s signature on a treaty is temporary and subject to the whims of populist sentiment.

ចិត្តស្នេហ៍បរិសុទ្ធ - Cover

 

On this auspicious occasion of the Khmer New Year, we wish all our readers and beloved Khmer people everywhere safety, health, prosperity and peace and above all, those unfortunate families and their beloved ones currently being displaced from their homes and villages due to foreign invasion and aggression and being made to remain in abject conditions. 

We would like to also recall the immortal and benign words of one of our greatest kings - Jayavarman VII - who penned this memorable phrase: "It is not private afflictions but, public sorrows that make grief of kings". Perhaps, it is not so much the grand stone cities and monuments that he built that truly make him great but, more his love and devotion towards the well-being of his populace throughout his empire. 

 

The Patriot’s Paradox: Thailand’s Withdrawal From MOU 44, Cheap Nationalism, and Elite Interests

 

 

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent election victory could spell trouble for Thailand-Cambodia relations. His electoral success and subsequent policy statement proposing Thailand’s withdrawal from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 44) — a framework for bilateral negotiations over disputed maritime areas between Thailand and Cambodia — represent a deep contradiction for Thailand: the use of cheap nationalism may advance elite interests at the expense of Thai national interests.

Cambodia and Thailand share a long land and sea border, much of which is disputed. The maritime dispute dates back to 1972, when Cambodian Prime Minister Lon Nol issued two presidential decrees using the Thai island of Koh Kut as the reference point for Cambodia’s territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand. This Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) comprises some 27,000 square kilometres of maritime territory. On the one hand, it is estimated to contain natural gas reserves of around 311 billion cubic metres, as well as sizeable oil reserves. On the other hand, questions of territory inevitably fall within the bounds of sovereignty — one of the most sensitive issues for Southeast Asian countries. The future viability of MOU 44 has now come into question, re-intensifying territorial tensions between the two countries.

Filling the void: MOU 44

Signed by Cambodia and Thailand in June 2001, MOU 44 reflected two primary points of interest. First, it marked a triumph of diplomacy between the two Southeast Asian countries. As the second in a pair of boundary agreements — following MOU 43 (2000), which focused on land borders — MOU 44 addressed maritime territory and provided a framework for bilateral negotiations. At the time, neither country had yet become a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), leaving no prior framework for conflict resolution. Together, the twin MOUs represented a ‘golden age’ of cooperation between the two countries, when mutually beneficial outcomes were the primary philosophy guiding their relations.

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