Cambodia denies online claims of Vietnam sea-bridge project, warns of risk to bilateral ties

The fake social media post has gone viral. It suggested that Vietnam is constructing a 4.7 km sea route leading to Ha Tien General Port, with an additional 7 km stretch connecting toward Tien Hai island, about 30 km from Phu Quoc. Facebook

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has dismissed a viral social media post that claims that Vietnam is building a road across the sea toward Phu Quoc island, warning that such misinformation could strain relations between the two countries.

In a November 24 clarification, the ministry noted that the allegation surfaced after an online post used a coastal construction photo and claimed it showed Vietnam developing a bridge across the sea in violation of the 1982 Cambodia–Vietnam Agreement on Historical Waters.

The ministry said both the Vietnamese ambassador and the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh confirmed that no such project exists.

“As confirmed by the ambassador and the embassy, there is no such project, as was circulated on social media,” said the statement.

“The picture used in said social media post is actually part of the building project of a road to the Multi-functional Port of Ha Tien City, in the territory of Vietnam,” explained the ministry.

It warned that the circulation of false information could cause unnecessary public misunderstanding and risk harming the traditionally friendly relations between Cambodia and Vietnam.

It urged the public and social media users to refrain from sharing unverified claims that could inflame cross-border sensitivities.

“The spread of such false information must stop, as it may lead to a misunderstanding that negatively impacts friendly ties between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” the statement said.

-The Phnom Penh Post-