Keynote Address by H.E. Chum Sounry, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and InternatioinalCooperation (MoFAIC):
07:00AM, August 5, 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) categorically rejects the baseless accusations made against Cambodia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand during its briefing to the Diplomatic Corps in Bangkok on 4 August 2025.
The MoFAIC would like to clarify the following:
- Cambodia did not initiate the conflict. On the contrary, Cambodia has consistently exercised maximum restraint in the face of repeated Thai military provocations. The ongoing border tensions are a direct result of Thailand’s repeated incursions into Cambodian territory, in clear violation of existing agreements—most notably the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding—as well as international law.
- Thailand’s claim of self-defense is unfounded. The Cambodian armed forces have acted solely in proportionate response to defend the nation’s sovereignty and protect its citizens following repeated cross-border incursions and unprovoked artillery fire by Thai forces.
- Thailand’s accusations of Cambodian “disinformation” are an attempt to deflect blame and evade accountability for its own violations of the ceasefire.
- Cambodia’s actions remain fully consistent with international law and humanitarian principles. The Cambodian armed forces have never targeted civilian populations, as falsely alleged by Thailand. Cambodia remains firmly committed to the ceasefire agreement reached at the Special Meeting on 28 July 2025 in Malaysia and will continue to engage in good faith for its full implementation through ASEAN mechanisms.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) strongly condemns the continued provocations by the Thai armed forces and urges Thailand to:
a. Fully respect Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in accordance with the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the fundamental principles of international law;
b. Immediately cease all military provocations and unilateral actions that endanger civilian security and risk further escalation;
c. Demonstrate its public commitments to peace through credible actions on the ground by fully implementing the ceasefire agreement;
d. Refrain from any further escalation and disinformation that threaten the fragile peace and stability along the shared border.
- Cambodia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to resolving all outstanding issues through peaceful means, in full accordance with international law, the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and the ceasefire agreement.
