The recent flare-up of tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border, culminating in the clashes that began on July 24, has once again drawn international attention to a long-standing and deeply sensitive territorial dispute. As readers, we often rely on prominent analyses, such as those published by The Strategist and the Bangkok Post, to make sense of complex geopolitical events. While these articles offer valuable insights, a critical review reveals certain limitations and a discernible inclination in their narrative that warrants a more nuanced perspective, particularly to ensure all voices are adequately heard. Data gaps and narrative imbalances The article by Angela…
Author: Guest Writer
At the beginning of July, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Collegium held a regular meeting; however, the topic was anything but routine. The discussion focused on information and communication technologies, specifically the new challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Though the results were summarised in an official news release, the meeting was merely the first step in a far broader effort. It marked the launch of a substantive intra-ministry debate and the ministry’s adaptation to addressing AI-related challenges within the international dimension of this vast topic. In the context of this discussion for a wider audience, I would like to delve deeper into…
You can’t hide the sun.You can’t hide the moon.And no matter how deep the shadow, you can’t hide the truth forever. In the wake of conflict, when bullets pause and soldiers return to rain-soaked camps, a different kind of war begins: the war over what happened, over who was right and over what the world should believe. We have seen this unfold clearly in recent days. While guns were lowered, narratives were raised. Some voices grew louder, not to calm the region, but to tilt the truth. Major international media outlets – those we once trusted to illuminate the facts…
Thailand is waging a dangerous campaign of border provocations and lies, threatening to unravel a ceasefire that Cambodia alone has worked tirelessly to uphold. While our nation has chosen peace, transparency and discipline, Bangkok continues to violate the ceasefire, distort the truth and mislead the world — a reckless strategy that risks regional stability. The reality on the ground is undeniable. At the An Ses border checkpoint in Preah Vihear province — ravaged after five straight days of Thai military aggression — Cambodia did not retaliate. Instead, we opened our doors to the world. Military attachés and diplomats from 13…
In the past weeks, our nation stood together, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. We rose in unity to defend our border, comfort our wounded and honour those who paid the ultimate price. In doing so, we showed the world, and ourselves, what Cambodia is made of. But as the dust begins to settle and soldiers remain stationed in the rain, a deeper question now stirs: What will we do with this unity we found? For a moment, differences melted away. Rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, we remembered we belonged to one flag. That spirit is…
Cambodia and Thailand clashed over their border conflict for five consecutive days from July 24 to 28, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 soldiers and civilians and the displacement of more than 200,000 people in both countries. A ceasefire was reached following mediation by Malaysia, which currently serves as ASEAN chair, and the US, with China also closely observing and supporting the mediation effort. The ceasefire was set to begin at midnight on July 28, 2025, with both parties continuing discussions on the conditions of the ceasefire in the following days, July 29 and August 4. The ceasefire…
This morning in Takeo, a man was sowing seeds in his field, with his feet sunk deep in the mud. The sun was only just rising. He said nothing. No distractions. Just the slow, steady rhythm of someone doing what needs to be done, for his family, for his land. He was focused. Present. Not loud. Not angry. But that is also nationalism. True love for Cambodia does not always wear a flag or raise its voice. Sometimes, it wears old clothes, walks quietly and carries a hoe. Sometimes, it bleeds in silence, serves without being seen or teaches children…
As the Kingdom of Cambodia stands firmly on the side of peace, our government has spared no effort to ensure that the recently agreed-upon ceasefire with Thailand is upheld. Cambodia has acted with integrity and transparency, fully committed to avoiding any action that might undermine regional stability. From the very outset of this conflict, Cambodia has pursued peace with sincerity. There is no reason — political, military or strategic — for Cambodia to provoke or violate the ceasefire in any form. Instead, Cambodia has taken the high road, working tirelessly with the ASEAN Chair, the UN Security Council and world…
Home to more disasters than any other regions, Asia and the Pacific face rising risks as extreme environmental events grow in both frequency and intensity. At the heart of disaster preparedness, lies a crucial yet often overlooked system: Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS). Not only are these systems essential for ensuring that everyone has access to a legal identity, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 16.9, they provide critical and accurate population data, which enable effective disaster planning, response, resource allocation and recovery efforts. By providing the foundation for identifying vulnerable and at-risk populations, tracking mortality and…
The guns have gone quiet, for now. But the smoke from the last explosions still lingers. The black haze from F-16 bombings and heavy artillery fire hangs above our border villages, a cruel reminder of what we have endured. The echoes of gunfire may have faded, but in our hearts, the pain remains sharp. The memory, unshakable. A ceasefire has been declared. Our soldiers are resting, some returning to base, others still watching the horizon. The displaced wait in pagodas, schools and open fields – tens of thousands of families hoping to return to what’s left of their homes. But…