24/07/2025
Thailand Strikes First: Cambodia Defends Its Sovereignty
In a blatant act of military aggression that threatens peace and stability in Southeast Asia, Thai armed forces launched an unprovoked assault against Cambodian troops stationed near the sacred Ta Mone Thom and Ta Krabey temples in Banteay Meanchey province — well within Cambodia’s internationally recognised borders. The attack, which occurred on the morning of July 24, sparked intense clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border in Oddar Meanchey province.
This was not a border misunderstanding. It was an armed violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty.
According to Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, “Cambodian forces acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity.” Cambodia did not start this fight. But we will defend our homeland.
A Dangerous Precedent of Aggression
This is not the first time Thailand has played the aggressor while crying victim to the international community. The pattern is unmistakable: initiate conflict, manipulate narratives and distort facts to hide culpability. Such conduct is not only dishonest — it is dangerous.
Thailand’s recent move to launch an armed assault on sovereign Cambodian soil marks a serious breach of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. This action constitutes a violation of international law and undermines the rules-based international order that ASEAN and the global community strive to uphold.
Cambodia’s military presence at Ta Mone Thom and Ta Krabey is legitimate. These temples lie within Cambodian territory, as reaffirmed by historical treaties, maps and prior rulings. Thailand’s use of force to assert baseless claims is nothing short of state-sponsored aggression.
Cambodia’s Right to Self-Defence
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces acted with restraint and responsibility, exercising their inherent right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Their response was measured, proportionate and aimed solely at protecting national sovereignty and preventing further escalation.
Unlike Thailand, Cambodia does not seek confrontation. We seek peace, mutual respect and regional harmony. But peace cannot come at the expense of sovereignty. Nor can it be sustained when one nation repeatedly violates the borders of another with impunity.
An Urgent Call to the International Community
The international community must not turn a blind eye to this reckless behaviour. Cambodia calls upon the UN, ASEAN, and all peace-loving nations to:
1. Condemn Thailand’s armed incursion as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.
2. Uphold Cambodia’s right to self-defence and territorial integrity.
3. Demand an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Thai troops from Cambodian territory.
4. Support an impartial international investigation into the incident to establish the facts and hold the aggressors accountable.
The silence of the global community in the face of such blatant violations emboldens future aggression — not just in Cambodia, but anywhere where powerful neighbours seek to redraw borders by force.
Cambodia has long exercised patience in the face of provocation. But patience must not be mistaken for weakness. We will not allow our sacred land — our temples, our soldiers, our people — to be attacked without consequence.
Thailand must be held accountable for its actions. And the world must speak out, not only for Cambodia, but for the principles of sovereignty, peace, and international law.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
Credits: phnompenhpost.com
