(Video) Selected Comments of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, at the meeting with the Cambodian community in Japan [Unofficial Translations]

CMF: 31/05/2025

(1) Wherever we Cambodians are, we always have a spirit of unity and meet each other

In fulfilling our missions abroad, meeting and receiving the greetings of our Cambodian brothers and sisters is a source of important energy, confirming the welcome for the leaders of the country, the delegation from Cambodia. Together, we show (to) Japan, show to the world that Cambodia is a small country (with) people (living) in many countries, and wherever we are, we always have a spirit of unity, meeting each other, not just during the holidays […] This visit to Japan is in response to the invitation of the Nikkei Forum to give a speech to present the views and policies of the Cambodian government and Cambodia’s readiness to push the country forward in a period of global change. You all know how the world has changed in recent years. First, it was COVID-19 […] After the COVID-19, there was war. After the war, now there is this trade war, imposing taxes on the entire world […] we must know how to (face difficulties to) survive (on our own) […] This is the lesson of life. The passage we can make so far is for us to ensure ownership and trust ourselves and (have) the ability to go on […]

(2) “Cambodia makes friends with all countries to benefit the nation and people …”

The same is true for Royal Government of Cambodia. In the past, we were under political pressure, economic sanctions, and we were in isolation […] They compared (Cambodia’s choice of counties in cooperation to a choice between) beef and cabbage. I said Cambodia takes it all. We make friends with all countries in the world. Someone asked me how our relationship is with China? I told them we wanted to see our relationship with China as good as our relations with other countries. I said, “We want to have a relationship with China like our relationship with Japan, the United States, Thailand, Malaysia. Cambodia wants good relations with all countries in the world.” […] For the sake of our nation and people, “Cambodia must make friends with all countries to benefit the nation and people, whether at home or abroad, and we live together and grow with all friends.” […] In the meeting with (Japanese Prime Minister) His Excellency ISHIBA Shigeru, we laid out many principles in all fields, especially socio-economic cooperation, preparing an environmental framework to increase economic relations, Japanese investment, training Cambodian human resources with Japan to benefit Cambodians and Japanese economies, as well as Japanese investors coming to (invest in Cambodia) […]

(3) We feel happy to have used every minute for the cause of the motherland

Every visit is a joy for leaders, when after boarding the plane, even though we are tired, we feel that we have used every minute for the cause of the motherland […] My main job (is) to meet bilaterally to negotiate to raise Cambodia-Japan relations to a higher level […] We established diplomatic relations 72 years ago […] In 2023, Samdech Techo and the former Japanese Prime Minister agreed to upgrade Cambodia-Japan diplomatic relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, which is the highest level between Cambodia and Japan in the history of relations between the two countries […] The fact that the relations between the two countries have reached this highest level helps encourage investors or trade between Cambodia and Japan to have trust. If diplomatic relations are not good, not many people want to do business because it might be issues that they had to close down and move factories somewhere else. However, if diplomatic relations are good, there is warmth, and long-term investment can be made […]

(4) We love our country and we have come to act as ambassadors for Cambodia

They say that wherever Hun Manet goes, there are protesters against him. I agree that I do not have all the lovers, but I also do not have all the haters […] The Cambodian People’s Party and the Royal Government also have supporters. Opposition politicians are not all loved by everyone […] Those who gather to demonstrate and express their opinions may continue to do so […] however, please respect the rights of the more than 1,600 Cambodian citizens who have come from far away to meet and listen to the head of the government to learn about the country’s situation and to show national unity […] I thank you for your spirit, both interns and students, each of whom has a sense of patriotism. We love our country, which is why we have come to work hard to strengthen ourselves, our capabilities, and our livelihoods. We have come to act as ambassadors for Cambodia […]

(5) Recognized by Japan, and by the Cambodians in Japan as the Cambodian Prime Minister

In addition to meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, His Excellency ISHIBA Shigeru, I also met with the President of the Senate, His Excellency SEKIGUCHI Masakaz, and the President of the Japanese National Assembly or Lower House, His Excellency NUKAGA Fukushiro, here. Although they are in the legislative branch, I am in the executive branch, we have talked a lot. The topic he raised the most was to help attract Japanese investors to invest in Cambodia and to attract Cambodian and Japanese trade (to work together) […] Each of you is an ambassador of Cambodia […]

We have striven to reach this moment together, even though some have been cursing us, and predicting that we are not welcome (in Japan). They say that no one recognizes us. It is not like what they say. When I got off the plane, we were welcome with a red carpet, and wherever I went, they put up the full Cambodian flag, Japanese ministers/leaders, including the heads of the legislative and executive institutions- the Government, the Senate, and the National Assembly, have warmly welcome us. So, I might not be recognized by a few of those who have said so, but I have been recognized by Japan, and by you here as the Prime Minister of Cambodia […]

(6) Increase jobs opportunity in the country but open options to working abroad

What you guys are doing to earn a living here is an honorable work. We don’t steal or rob others. It is professional. We work hard to provide a living and skills. When we finish, we can go home and find jobs with the Japanese factories that invest (in Cambodia). This is for our future and the future of our families with dignity. The government is working hard to increase jobs in the country by attracting investment, but we also need to open doors for you to have options to work abroad […] If you are in danger, our embassy will help you […]

(7) No matter where Cambodians live, they must not be left behind

No matter where Cambodians live, we must try our best not to leave you behind. You may not be happy with and curse the government, criticize, and attack the embassy, but when you need to extend your passport, the embassy will still do it for you […] We are trying to negotiate with the bank if you need to get a bank loan to pay for the service needed for you to come here and have repaid it […] We negotiated the interest rate down to 8.5%, which was normally 18% […] I hope that the banking sector across the country will try to look into the possibility of further lowering interest rates if you need to borrow to have capital to invest abroad, with lower repayment obligations […]

(8) From importing drinking water and orange juice, Cambodia now have put the Cambodian label on many products

The important factor in protecting the country and strengthening national sovereignty is human resource. The government has set three major goals – health, ability, and livelihood for the Cambodians. We are investing in thousands of schools. This year, I have prepared a plan to increase the number of secondary and high schools closer to the grassroots […] In the 1990s, we were not able to do this. Even drinking water and orange juice were imported. Now we have domestic production and export, putting the Cambodian label on many products […] We are the largest exporter of bicycles to the European market, ranking first in the world […] We even have cars assembled in Cambodia for the local market. In the time to come, a company will bring in a Mercedes car project and assemble some parts to export […]

(9) Ability to own production, education, and political planning ensures independence, ownership, and not attached to any country

Day by day, Cambodia has evolved from 5 million to 17 million people, from skinny Cambodians to Cambodians who are well-nourished, capable, and have the opportunity to learn, from a country that relied on imports for everything, now we export a lot, from a country that received foreign peacekeeping troops to help maintain peace, to a country that sends troops abroad (to) help demining, maintaining peace in their countries. This is our pride […] This is the pride of building a country, our ability, through issuing policies that care about people. For what? For us to have the ability to own our production, our own education, and our own political planning. That is how we ensure our independence, our ownership, not to be attached to any country, not to lose our country because Cambodians know how to own their business more and more, and stronger […]

(10) Do not let the Cambodian, the Vietnamese, the Laotian, and the Thai children still be confused and fight because the border is unclear

Concerns about the country, the future, territorial integrity, and patriotism must be shared by all. But the methods of doing so, may be different […] The Royal Government of Cambodia also has its own methods for resolving the border issue. We are not resorting to lawsuits, just yet. This would be the last resort since once we file a lawsuit, we close all channels of negotiation. If we file a lawsuit and the other party refuses to negotiate or implement the legal outcome, channels for negotiation will be blocked […] What is the Royal Government’s decision for? So that we can make our border clear from one generation to the next. Don’t let Cambodian children, Vietnamese children, Lao children, and Thai children, in the future, still be confused and still fight because the border is unclear […] We have called for help to join the border road protection fund. We have a plan, but we want the participation of citizens to directly participate in protecting the territory […] Some of you say to build a fence. Those of you who are willing to build a fence, you may raise the money to build a fence. I build a road along the border, only when there is a road can we protect it firmly. Only by pushing for the people’s defense movement can we protect our territory for the long term […]

(11) Living with friends around, creating no wars, based on law and respect of sovereignty

All Cambodian citizens have the right to love their country and want to protect their territory. The method of participating in any activity is their own decision, but we have the same goal. Let all of you, whether you agree with the government or not, not criticize those who join the government in doing (work for the national interest). We all do it for the nation. If you contribute to the budget for building a border road, please join in congratulating us. Don’t curse us for not joining you to build a fence with you. Those who participate in building a road don’t need to criticize those who ask for a fence and blame them not loving their country. We love the country all the same. We must respect their rights. However, the goal is to develop borders to protect our territory […] We don’t live only for ourselves. We need friends around us. We don’t live to create wars. We need good relations with mutual respect, based on the law and respect of sovereignty. The Cambodian people, the Thai people, the Vietnamese people, and the Laotian people all have a history of intertwining, both bitter and good. The past is one thing, the present and the future matter. Which choice do we choose? Do we choose to confront each other and continue to hate each other, or do we have to choose to cooperate and respect each other? […]

(12) The army is not the one to resolve the border issue but a supporter to resolving the border issue

We are together to protect the country, national unity, strengthen the nation in all sectors (to) make Cambodia stronger. We build infrastructure, work hard to resolve the border issue so that it does not remain unclear. The army is not the one to resolve the border issue. The army is a supporter of resolving the border issue. We have a border committee. Cambodia has a secretary of state for borders affairs because borders need clear expertise, and agreed documents. The 1907 treaty with Thailand, the 1908 map document, are to be interpreted. The army has the task of protecting the agreed upon places, standing in places that are not clear, to support the two border committees to resolve […]

I also gave the principle that the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of National Defense, the Commander of the Army work regularly. They have contacted each other and worked among them. Now we are working to prevent it from spreading, and to find a way to resolve to the original situation […] The Army Commander must meet immediately (with his Thai counterpart) because (the confrontation) has reached a high level. They have to do two jobs together – to communicate with the Ministers of National Defense, and we also interact with the Prime Ministers to assess the situation […]

(13) Better “have things in hands that we do not need to use, rather than needing to use, but have nothings in hands”

The decision of the national leadership is important. If we do not assess the situation properly, either we would be underprepared for the battle, and would not be able to catch up or we would be overprepared and attack too hard leading to unnecessarily aggravating the situation. (We cannot have this issue where) a few people had too much to drink and shoot each other, and eventually brought about war along the entire border […] So, trying to assess the situation, but at the same time, we will order some forces to increase (readiness). When soldiers do something, we must think of a contingency plan.

(It is) a theory (that) we should have things in our hands that we do not need to use, rather than when we need to use them, we do not have things in our hands […] As the Prime Minister, I am wearing two hats. One hat is the political leader’s hat, which is how to protect the lives, the loss of lives of our soldiers if it is not necessary, if it is not a big deal. We try to extinguish, prevent our citizens in the war zone from evacuating […] The other is the military hat. The military hat does not say whether to fight or not. The military hat says that when fighting, we must fight to win. When I (as the commander of the ground forces), I tell the soldiers that there is no need to think about politics […] we must make a plan to be ready when to fight, and to fight to win […]

(14) Cambodia wants to resolve the border issue peacefully, with good cooperation, based on technical and international laws

As an army person, you have to be ready. I am not going to use my army to bring on the fight to you, and I am not going to drag my army to bring the fight to anyone. I have said before that Cambodia wants to resolve the border issue peacefully, with good cooperation, based on technical and international laws. However, Cambodia is ready to maintain the right to defend its territory by all means, including armed forces. If there is an attempt to use armed forces in aggression, this is a real task […] Please understand that in the battlefield, weapons and equipment are one factor that may only be 30 or 40 percent (of what you need), but the will to fight is the determining factor for success […] Information management is critically important […]

(15) Should the war be inevitable, we must fight to win and protect lives of our soldiers

The release of information about casualties is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense, who does not hide information, but think clearly, have clear data, and have a clear time frame. Regarding the situation at the border, I would like you to get information from the official page of our Ministry of National Defense […] Another thing is regarding soldiers in the front. We observe freedom of expression, but information about the armed forces should not be revealed […] I am calling on all of you, especially the soldiers, who all have smartphones and along the border have 3G and 4G service coverage […] consider that our main goal is to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity by all means. If war can be avoided, we will avoid it. But we must protect the territory from being lost. If we cannot avoid it, we must fight to win, protect the lives of our soldiers to the maximum […]

(16) Increase participation in encouraging patriotic spirit at the time the country is at risk from invasion

If the efforts to resolve the situation on May 28 did not score positive result, one death and one injury would have become 100 today, and 100 refugees could have become 1000 […] either on our side and/or on the other side, if we did not assess the situation correctly […] First, we must maintain territorial sovereignty […] Second, we must be constantly prepared. If it were to continue, arms clashes ensued, force attack and occupy, and the war will spread to the front of Preah Vihear, or it will spread to Military Region 4, Ta Moan, Ta Krabey, Anlong Veng, or it will spread to Military Region 5 and Military Region 3, Koh Kong, and attack along that line. If it is a war between countries, attack would happen on all 3 regions, from Koh Kong, Cham Yeam, to Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and all the way to Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear.

If this is a large-scale war of aggression at the national level. The navy also fights the navy […] Others can say whatever s/he wants, but if the Prime Minister says it, the fight is on. Before attacking, we must analyze to understand the situation clearly. A political decision is a decision that can help save lives and relationships or destroy lives and relationships […] everyone here and in the country, may want to increase your participation in helping, not just with money and materials, but sending messages of encouragement to our troops on your social media such as Facebook and stopping discouraging our troops is already a huge help to encourage our patriotic spirit. Especially when our country is at risk (from invasion) […]./.