The US is still in contact with the leaders of Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, with efforts continuing to bring Thailand and Cambodia back to the conditions of the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords that were witnessed by US President Donald Trump, according to State Department spokesperson. The spokesperson told The Post via email on December 18 that the US is concerned by the continued fighting and casualties as fighting is reportedly going. “We are concerned by continued fighting and casualties in multiple locations along the Cambodia-Thailand border. We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians…
Author: Niem Chheng
Thailand is continuing its assault on Cambodia for the 13th day. “Toxic smoke” has been widely used in the past few days, according to defence ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, as she addressed the December 19 morning press briefing. She said tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border have escalated, with Thai military forces reportedly continuing their aggression, in violation of the recently signed ceasefire agreement. Socheata asserted that Thailand has consistently breached the ceasefire and the Joint Declaration signed by the prime ministers of both countries on October 26. In the 4th Military Region, specifically Oddar Meanchey province, Thai forces reportedly continued…
The courts are currently pursuing legal proceedings in 35 major online scam cases involving a total of 168 suspected ringleaders and their accomplices, including 39 women. The suspects include nationals from China and Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia. These cases are the result of crackdowns conducted during the last six months of 2025, according to the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC). According to a December 18 CCTC report, since June 27, joint authorities carried out raids on 118 target locations across 18 provinces and the capital. During this period, authorities detained…
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reportedly spoken with Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow, with both sides willing to de-escalate the ongoing conflict. Guo Jiakun, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, announced tonight, December 18, via social media, that both the Cambodian and Thai sides had expressed their willingness to de-escalate tensions and implement a ceasefire. “China has consistently advocated for peaceful dialogue and maintained a fair and impartial stance, while supporting ASEAN’s mediation efforts,” said Guo Jiakun, quoting Wang Yi. “A Special Envoy for Asian Affairs from China’s Foreign Ministry…
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has warned that the use of air strikes and heavy weaponry and the widening Thailand-Cambodia hostilities in and around populated areas raise serious concerns regarding protection of the civilian population. He called for an immediate end to the fighting. “I am alarmed by reports that areas around villages and cultural sites are being struck by fighter jets, drones and artillery,” said Türk, as quoted in a December 18 UN Human Right press release. “Under international humanitarian law, it is very clear that protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure is paramount,” he warned. According to…
Today, December 18, marks the 12th day of Thai attacks on Cambodia. The Thai military continued to escalate the ongoing conflict by deploying F-16 fighter jets, heavy artillery and toxic gas against Cambodian territory throughout the day. This afternoon, Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata reported that Thai forces have continued their attacks across Cambodia’s 4th and 5th Military Regions, noting that the attacks violate the ceasefire and joint declaration signed by the prime ministers of both nations on October 26. According to Socheata, in the 5th Military Region, specifically in Banteay Meanchey province, Thai forces reportedly deployed F-16…
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has announced the impending return 13 Khmer artefacts to Cambodia. The pieces date from the Angkorian era and linked to the late Douglas “Dynamite Doug” Latchford, a notorious trafficker in looted antiquities. In a December 18 press release, the ministry stated that the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has made an official decision to return them home, following a unanimous vote by the Asian Art Commission on September 24. The commission confirmed that the 13 exquisite artefacts were exported from Cambodia illegally, in violation of federal law, based on evidence uncovered by…
The Cambodian embassy in France has noted restrictions placed on air passengers transiting through Thailand en route to Cambodia, with Thai immigration authorities “harassing” passengers with unusual questions, wasting their time. In a December 16 letter, the embassy stated that a number of passengers traveling from Europe to Cambodia encountered difficulties while transiting at Bangkok airports. The issues included being questioned for many hours and facing excessive demands to produce documents proving financial resources. Passengers were also subjected to checks regarding their hotel reservations in Cambodia and faced an atmosphere of anxiety and other unreasonable suspicions. The embassy added that…
The Thai military has continued its aggression against Cambodian territory. Today, December 17, marks the eleventh day of assaults, with the number of displaced people increasing to 447,509, according to Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra. Cambodian authorities reported that Thai forces have not only launched attacks against the Cambodian troops defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but have also deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. “Thailand has deceived the international community and falsely accused Cambodia in order to fabricate a pretext for its aggression. It is now evident to the world that Thailand initiated these attacks and waged a…
The US embassy in Phnom Penh has shared how the US government is working to encourage Cambodia and Thailand to return to the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord that was witnessed by President Donald Trump on October 26. The embassy also noted that it accepts the concerns raised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham). On December 15, AmCham wrote a letter of concern to the embassy regarding Thai military statements that Thailand may designate Cambodian ports “high risk” and blockade shipments of fuel and other goods. Casey Barnett, AmCham president, requested that the embassy convey…