Cambodian people must see the truth: the Thai Army is not only fighting on the battlefield — it is waging a dirty information war through the Thai media. This war is fought with lies, half-truths and fake news, designed to poison public opinion inside Thailand and mislead the world.
From local Thai outlets to Thai journalists working for big-name international agencies like Reuters, the story is always the same — word-for-word what the Thai generals want the world to hear. They don’t check with Cambodian sources. They don’t report both sides. They act like scribes, not journalists.
This is the irregular media strategy of Thailand: 1. Control the battlefield narrative — Thai Army officers decide what reporters can see and hear. Anything that exposes their aggression is hidden. 2. Twist facts into malinformation — small truths are bent until they become big lies. 3. Spread disinformation — inventing stories that paint Cambodia as the aggressor. 4. Repeat lies until they become “truth” in the minds of the Thai public.
Every level of the Thai military — from foot soldiers to top generals — works together to feed this propaganda machine. Thai citizens are told only one version of events: that Thailand is the victim, always defending its land. But the reality on the ground is the opposite: armed incursions into Cambodian territory, violations of the ceasefire and calculated provocations.
This is not journalism. This is psychological warfare. And it is dangerous — because it builds nationalist anger in Thailand, justifies military aggression and risks pushing the two countries back into armed conflict.
In Cambodia, the approach is different. Cambodian media — whether government spokespeople or independent journalists — base reports on verified facts, clear sources and documented evidence. Cambodians are given the truth, not a carefully manufactured fantasy. They report the full story: diplomatic developments, military incidents and the real situation on the ground.
The Thai Army’s irregular media strategy is designed to manipulate its own people and confuse the outside world. But we will not let these lies stand. Cambodia must continue exposing the truth, countering each falsehood with fact and showing the world the reality of Thai aggression.
Lies may win short-term headlines — but the truth will win history.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
