01/09/2026
Cambodia Reiterates Thailand Initiated the Unprovoked Armed Attack and Cannot Claim Self-Defence to Justify Its Unlawful Military Actions
Press Release: The Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to inform the public, as well as national and international media, as follows:
The Ministry of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia categorically rejects the unfounded and false claims made by Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee, Director of Thailand’s Joint Information Centre, alleging that Cambodia was the side that fired first.
Cambodia reiterates that, in fact, it was the Thai side that first launched unprovoked armed attack against Cambodia. Therefore, Thailand, who initiated the attack against Cambodian territory, cannot portray itself as the victim, while invoking self-defence as a pretext to justify and demonstrate the legality of its unlawful military actions.
At the same time, it is important to underscore that, several days before launching its unprovoked armed attack against Cambodia on 24 July 2025, Thailand announced the “Chakrabongse Bhuvanath” war-readiness plan. The introduction of this plan clearly demonstrated that Thailand’s military actions had been meticulously premeditated and deliberate, contrary to Thailand’s claim that its use of force was merely a defensive response.
In this regard, Thailand’s attempt to invoke alleged provocations, security concerns and landmine issues as grounds for obstructing or delaying the resumption of joint survey and boundary demarcation work is inconsistent with the spirit and commitments set out in the Joint Statement of 27 December 2025.
Cambodia therefore calls on Thailand to fully, effectively and immediately implement the Joint Statement of 27 December 2025, in particular by promptly resuming the survey and boundary demarcation work of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), in accordance with the existing agreements between the two countries.
Cambodia remains firmly committed to seeking a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the boundary issue, based on international law, as well as the existing treaties and agreements between Cambodia and Thailand. At the same time, Cambodia will categorically not accept the use of force or the creation of faits accomplis as a means of determining or altering the boundary between the two countries.
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