Thailand Cannot Hide the Military Aggression Against Cambodia — The World Already Knows
Thai soldiers carry rolls of razor wire as they prepare to erect more barricades in Banteay Meanchey province’s Prey Chan village. Supplied
-Opinion-
Thailand can no longer deny the undeniable. For weeks, the Thai military has carried out systematic aggression against Cambodia — incursions across the border, armed intimidation of civilians and violations of the ceasefire agreements that both countries committed to under ASEAN frameworks. Yet Bangkok pretends otherwise, cloaking its actions with hollow denials and propaganda. The world is watching, and the truth is already exposed.
At Prey Chan and other Cambodian villages, Thai troops have crossed into Cambodia’s territory with shields, batons and other weapons, dispersing unarmed villagers with tear gas and force. These are not “misunderstandings”. They are deliberate provocations. They breach the agreements made during the General Border Committee meetings on August 7 and September 10, which strictly forbid troop movements and provocative actions. Cambodia has upheld its commitments. Thailand has not.
Even worse, this aggression has been paired with a disinformation campaign designed to confuse international opinion. Thai military-linked media outlets, amplified by so-called security “influencers” like Wassana Nanuam, have tried to portray Cambodia as the aggressor. These fake news factories attempt to erase the suffering of Cambodian villagers and shift blame onto the very victims of Thai aggression. Such tactics might have worked decades ago, but not today. In the digital age, photos, videos and eyewitness testimony are circulated globally in real time. Thailand cannot hide behind manufactured narratives.
The Thai generals responsible for these incursions should be named. Their reckless behaviour not only endangers Cambodian lives but also risks destabilising the entire region. The Thai government’s refusal to rein them in reveals a deeper problem: Bangkok’s leaders appear willing to sacrifice ASEAN peace for the sake of military adventurism and domestic political calculations.
Cambodia, by contrast, has acted with patience and responsibility. Prime Minister Hun Manet has repeatedly called for dialogue, restraint and respect for ASEAN principles. Cambodia has no interest in escalating tensions. What Cambodia demands is respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law and the protection of civilians.
The international community must not remain silent. Thailand’s aggression is not a bilateral misunderstanding; it is a clear violation of Cambodia’s territorial integrity and a threat to ASEAN credibility. If one member state can breach agreements with impunity, then every peace mechanism in Southeast Asia is weakened. That is why the world must hold Thailand accountable, not through polite words but through pressure, exposure and condemnation.
History will record who sought peace and who chose aggression. Cambodia has chosen diplomacy. Thailand has chosen military bullying. No propaganda, no influencer, no state-controlled headline can alter this fact. The world already knows the truth. It is time for Thailand to end its aggression, withdraw its troops, and return to diplomacy — before its reckless actions lead to consequences far greater than it can control.
Roth Santepheap is geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
-The Phnom Penh Post-
