AKP Phnom Penh, June 22, 2025 --

Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet announced this morning that Cambodian local authorities decided to close two border checkpoints with Thailand today – Choub Korki and Choam in Oddor Meanchey province, after the Thai side UNILATERALLY decided to close the Choub Korki one.

Late last night, the Premier pointed out, the governor of Oddor Meanchey province reported that Military Region 2 of the Thai army has informed about its unilateral decision to close Choub Korki border checkpoint from today.

"I agreed with the governor's response that we will also close that border checkpoint permanently. I also ordered the governor to inform Thai side that Cambodia has also decided to close another checkpoint at Choam, all together with Choub Korki checkpoint from today onwards," he shared on his social media platform this morning. 

Since June 7, 2025, he continued, Thai army has UNILATERALLY implemented closures of border checkpoints between Cambodia and Thailand without much consideration of its negative effects on people of both countries. It has never been Cambodia's intention to cause difficulty for people in both countries who need to use border checkpoints. Yet, if Thai army continue to use this method to put pressure on Cambodia, Cambodia can answer accordingly at any time. 

It is strange that, while Thai political leaders, including the prime minister, have repeatedly requested for bilateral negotiation to reopen border checkpoints, Thai army continues to UNILATERALLY close or change times of closing border checkpoints, Samdech Thipadei said.

"I am not sure if this is tactics or strategy of working relationship between Thai government and Thai army, because it seems there is a lack of consensus and clarity on their real objective regarding border closures. One party wants to have a bilateral negotiation to re-open border check points and return to normal, while the other party, namely Thai army, continue to UNILATERALLY close border checkpoints," he noticed.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet added that Cambodia always has consensus from top leadership of the government to the troops on the ground. When Prime Minister issues an order, agencies at national, subnational and the military execute accordingly. 

With regard to the opening of border checkpoints between Cambodia and Thailand, Samdech Thipadei reiterated the Cambodian government's position: there is no need for any bilateral negotiation on reopening of border checkpoints. 

“If Thai side truly wants our border checkpoints to return to normal operations as before, it can be done easily and quickly. The Thai army, who unilaterally began to close border checkpoints on June 7, 2025, just needs to reopen it unilaterally first to the same as before that day. Cambodia will reopen all checkpoints on our sides the latest 5 hours after that. Such a simple solution can be done easily and quickly without the need to have any bilateral negotiation. All it needs is a true and honest desire to reopen border checkpoints by Thai side,” he concluded.

(Bottom left: Choub Korki border checkpoint. Bottom right: Choam border checkpoint)

By Heng Panha