Hun Sen’s Thai Audio Leak Ignites Firestorm on Chinese Social Media

[webfact]

Composite image courtesy of Facebook The Nation

 

Hun Sen, Cambodia's former Prime Minister, is facing a torrent of criticism on Chinese social media after leaking sensitive details about Thailand's Shinawatra family. His actions, revealing their exile accommodation, are being blasted as a serious breach of trust.

 

Despite brewing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, official Chinese channels remain oddly quiet. There’s no commentary on the diplomatic spat or China’s past involvement in tackling transnational call centre gangs in the region. This topic, once covered extensively in Chinese media, has mysteriously vanished.

 

A recent article by Taigua.com, a Chinese social media platform, has captivated readers, highlighting the rift stirred by Hun Sen’s controversial actions. The article traces the fallout from an audio leak by Hun Sen of a private call with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, shocking many across Thailand and the international community.

 

The audio leak, which unveiled Hun Sen’s conversation with Paetongtarn, marks a steep deterioration in Thai-Cambodian relations, disrupting over three decades of cooperation and turning bilateral ties turbulent. Hun Sen further fuelled outrage by sharing images of the Shinawatras’ safe houses in Cambodia.

 

This move, perceived as a boastful disclosure, hinted at pivotal moments during the Shinawatras' departure from Thailand. Hun Sen later declared an end to the deep familial friendship between his and the Shinawatras' dynasties, spurred by the phone conversation’s release.

 

The Chinese social media sphere erupted with criticism, questioning Hun Sen’s judgement and labelling the disclosure of private accommodations as a breach of trust. Analysts on Chinese platforms suggest Hun Sen's actions might have been a defensive response to external accusations of his governance being "unprofessional".

 

The backlash highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region, with Chinese netizens actively engaging in the drama despite their government’s silence on the matter. This situation remains a focal point of interest, reflecting wider geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia.

 

As the diplomatic row lingers, the incident underscores the potential impact of personal relationships in regional politics, with the fallout possibly reshaping alliances. The ramifications of these revelations for Thai-Cambodian relations and wider regional partnerships remain uncertain.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-30

 

 

[Quentin Zen]

And it continues.  Cambodia is in bed with China.  Thailand needs China bad for tourism.

 

Baht, let's try to get to 50:1 to the USD in a year, OK?

 

Soon 180 day visa-exempt stamp for Russians, Chinese and Indians coming.   

[ikke1959]

China is no part at this moment officially... It is between Hun Sen Cambodia and Shinawatra Thailand... Of course as an almost province of China they will comment..But they should keep quiet as they are no party

[sscc]

4 hours ago, Quentin Zen said:

And it continues.  Cambodia is in bed with China.  Thailand needs China bad for tourism.

 

Baht, let's try to get to 50:1 to the USD in a year, OK?

 

Soon 180 day visa-exempt stamp for Russians, Chinese and Indians coming.   

 

USD is lacking bounce even with American good news  here and there in past 2-3 weeks 

USD is now slipping against all currencies,  expert Japanese Yen. 

More like USD Vs THB   heading to  1: 30,   not the other way.  

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

China is no part at this moment officially... It is between Hun Sen Cambodia and Shinawatra Thailand... Of course as an almost province of China they will comment..But they should keep quiet as they are no party

Thaksin has to tred carefully with Hun Sen, have you noticed his silence recently, not publicly protecting Paetongtarn or criticising Hun Sen.

He knows if he pushes too hard some CCTV footage of Thaksin dancing the night away at his party might surface and that would be a tad embarrassing, and compound his efforts to convince Thai courts that he was really injured.

[thesetat]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

This topic, once covered extensively in Chinese media, has mysteriously vanished.

We all know how that happened. Not much of a mystery when China controls everything posted in social media

 

[malathione]

2 hours ago, sscc said:

 

USD is lacking bounce even with American good news  here and there in past 2-3 weeks 

USD is now slipping against all currencies,  expert Japanese Yen. 

More like USD Vs THB   heading to  1: 30,   not the other way.  

Yup, especially with potential rate cuts sooner rather than later.