Thailand Rejects Claim It Is Occupying Cambodian T | RSS.com
Thailand has rejected accusations by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that Thai troops are illegally advancing deep into Cambodian territory, insisting its actions are temporary security measures carried out under a ceasefire agreement.
According to the Thai newspaper The Nation, Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said the presence of troops, along with the placement of shipping containers and barbed wire in disputed areas, is a short-term security step. He described it as consistent with the ceasefire deal and Thailand’s right to self-defence.
Winthai Suvaree was quoted as saying that the land in question belongs to Thailand. He argued that Cambodian nationals living there had entered Thai territory unlawfully and should not be described as refugees or displaced people.
He added that Thailand is prepared to enter talks with Cambodia over the border dispute, but only under certain conditions. These include a reduction in military tensions, demining efforts, and waiting for the formation of a new Thai government.
On February 17, Hun Manet told Reuters in an exclusive interview that Thai forces were continuing to move deeper into Cambodian territory despite a peace agreement brokered by United States President Donald Trump.
The South China Morning Post reported on Thursday that both Thailand and Cambodia are now competing for international support as the border dispute draws wider attention.
During a visit to Washington, Hun Manet accused Thailand of breaching the ceasefire. Bangkok, in turn, has accused Cambodia of spreading what it called distorted information to the international community.
The rising rhetoric has fuelled concern among some Cambodian commentators. Development and research adviser Sek Socheat wrote on social media that clashes could reignite if Thailand were to lose what he described as a diplomatic battle with Cambodia.
Sek Socheat argued that Cambodia would need strong and courageous leadership to defend its territory in the event of renewed conflict. He also called for national unity, saying that Cambodia’s strength depends on solidarity among its people.
He urged internal reconciliation among Cambodians, warning that Thailand would not back down over what he described as acts of aggression.
Tensions along the border remain sensitive, with both governments presenting sharply different accounts of events on the ground, even as international partners call for restraint and a return to negotiations.
