Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated to US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that Cambodia did not open fire first on December 7, during the incident which Thailand has used as a pretext for its current assault on Cambodia. He suggested the US use satellites to uncover the truth.
Manet held a telephone conversation with Tump last night, December 12. He spoke with Anwar, the ASEAN chair, a day earlier.
“Regarding the shooting on the afternoon of December 7, 2025, which started this new round of fighting between the two countries, I suggested to both leaders that the militaries or intelligence agencies of the United States and Malaysia should use their information-gathering capabilities, such as satellite imageries recorded during that time, as well as for the twenty-four hours after, to verify which side opened fire first,” he said.
“This may be the easiest and most transparent way to verify the incident. Cambodia is ready to cooperate in any way that is needed,” he noted, in a social media post from early this morning.
He explained that the two phone calls were part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand and for both sides to return to implementing the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration.
He thanked both leaders for their efforts to achieve a lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand.
“Cambodia has always maintained its stance of seeking peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration,” he added.
