Cambodia Refutes Border Pullout as Tensions Simmer with Thailand

Cambodia has denied reports that its troops have withdrawn from contested areas along the Thai border, insisting all military manoeuvres remain strictly within its own territory.

The clarification comes after Thai media suggested Cambodian forces had pulled back, prompting concerns and a wave of nationalist sentiment online. In a strongly worded statement, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said, “There has been no withdrawal… All troop arrangements are conducted entirely within Cambodia’s sovereign territory.”

At the heart of the tension is a decades-old dispute involving ancient temples and surrounding land in the Mom Bei region, which recently erupted into the first deadly clash between the two nations' armed forces in over ten years. A Cambodian soldier was killed during a 10-minute skirmish on 28 May.

In response, both nations boosted their military presence and closed key checkpoints. A joint meeting on 8 June saw an agreement to “readjust” troops to ease tensions, but not to withdraw them. Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra have both stressed the importance of avoiding further escalation.

Cambodia, however, is preparing to take the matter to the International Court of Justice. Prime Minister Hun Manet has established a high-level committee to document claims over sites including Ta Moan Thom and Ta Krabei temples. Thailand has rejected international arbitration, favouring direct negotiations through a regional border commission set to meet on 14 June.

Meanwhile, a wave of misinformation on both sides has stoked public anxiety. Fake news—including false claims of casualties and doctored videos—has circulated widely, prompting arrests and government warnings. Cambodian and Thai officials have urged citizens to rely only on official sources, amid fears that ultra-nationalist sentiment could jeopardise fragile diplomatic efforts.

“Cambodia harbours no ambition to invade any other country,” General Tea Seiha said. “Our sole purpose is to defend our territorial integrity.”

As both sides dig in diplomatically and militarily, the next few weeks will test whether dialogue can overcome the forces of misinformation and mistrust now inflaming this historic dispute.

-2025-06-11