AKP Phnom Penh, August 07, 2025 --

Cambodia has called on Thailand to end its ongoing disinformation campaign and instead engage in constructive dialogue, according to H.E. Chum Sounry, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Speaking at a press briefing held at 11:00 a.m. today in Phnom Penh, H.E. Chum Sounry emphasised that Thailand’s disinformation efforts pose a serious threat to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached during the special meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on July 28, 2025.

“This campaign is seen as an attempt to mislead the international community, mischaracterise Cambodia's position, and divert attention from Thailand's own actions on the ground,” he underlined.

H.E. Chum Sounry took the opportunity to highlight four key points: 

First, Cambodia has consistently demonstrated its goodwill, restraint, and commitment to peace, notably by fully complying with the ceasefire agreement reached during a special meeting on July 28, 2025 in Malaysia, actively participating in good faiths in General Border Committee talks, seeking a political negotiated solution to the crisis, hosting inspection tours of diplomats and UN agencies to refugee sites to ensure transparency. Cambodia has never initiated hostilities and any military engagement, both defensive and within its own territory. 

Second, Cambodia firmly rejects the unfounded allegations made by Thai officers, which falsely portray Cambodia as the aggressor and accuse Cambodia of violating the ceasefire and targeting civilians. These claims are not only purely incorrect, but also dangerously misleading. Cambodia reiterates that it has acted only in self-defence in response to incursions into its territory and has consistently observed the ceasefire with restraint. The Cambodian armed forces have not targeted civilian areas. Cambodia also rejects the accusation that it has used civilian population or refugee movements for political gain. On the contrary, Cambodia has provided international diplomats and UN agencies full access to displacement sites, facilitating humanitarian aid, and publicly called for the safe return of civilians to their homes through the complete implementation of the ceasefire. Cambodia considers such allegations aimed at discrediting Cambodia. 

Third, Cambodia strongly urges Thailand to abandon its current course of public misinformation and instead return to the path of good faith dialogue and regional cooperation. The current campaign of disinformation not only undermines trust between the two countries, but also threatens the progress made under the ceasefire agreement. Cambodia remains committed to resolving all disputes peacefully through diplomatic mechanisms, particularly the General Border Committee, which has yielded productive results. 

Fourth, Cambodia respectfully calls on the international community, including ASEAN member states, UN agencies, observer nations, particularly the current ASEAN Chair – Malaysia, the United States, and China to support objective mechanisms for monitoring the situation, such as the proposed ASEAN monitoring team. Cambodia also urges global media outlets to seek objective truth by supporting independent verification mechanisms, such as the proposed ASEAN monitoring team, and to avoid legitimising one-sided narratives that ignore facts on the ground, and Cambodia demonstrates its commitment to restraint and diplomacy. As a peace-loving nation, Cambodia affirms its compliance with the ceasefire agreement and is in full cooperation with regional and international efforts to stabilise the situation.

By Heng Panha