Cambodian Foreign Ministry rejects Thai accusations of shooting related to border dispute

By Cambodia Daily
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the Thai side’s accusation that Cambodia opened fire on Thai territory over the weekend in connection with a border dispute, saying Cambodia was the victim of an attack by the Thai side without any retaliation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on September 30 issued a press release regarding the participation in the United Nations General Assembly on September 27 completely rejecting the Thai side’s accusation that Cambodian forces opened fire first on Thai territory.
The same source claims that the Cambodian army did not act as the Thai side accused or retaliated against the Thai military because Cambodia is firmly committed to peace. At the same time, Cambodia has always called for support from ASEAN, the United Nations and the international community to help ease tensions and restore trust between the two countries.
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Cambodian government is deeply concerned about the ongoing tension along the border with Thailand, but Cambodia has repeatedly called on the Thai side to strictly respect ceasefires, dialogue and peaceful solutions in accordance with international law.
On September 28, 2025, the Thai newspaper The Nation quoted Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow as saying: At the United Nations General Assembly, Cambodia tried to portray itself as a victim in the border dispute with Thailand, which culminated in fighting in July 2025.
The Thai Foreign Minister stated that Thailand is the real victim because Thai soldiers were injured by Cambodian landmines, while children were not able to attend school, and civilians were attacked by Cambodian army rockets.
Mr. Prak Sokhonn stated that Cambodia is currently suffering not because of internal divisions, but because of border disputes with neighbors that threaten its national sovereignty while the ceasefire is fragile due to the conflicting parties acting unilaterally and continuously violating Cambodia’s territorial integrity.
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Interior raised a question with the Thai Foreign Minister on September 29: If Thailand is the victim, who first shot and killed a Cambodian soldier in the Mom Bei area and unilaterally closed the border and surrounded Ta Moan Thom Temple with barbed wire, creating a five-day attack and violating the Franco-Siamese Treaty and MOU of 2000.
Moreover, who doesn’t want a third party to come in to resolve this border dispute, and who violated the ceasefire by capturing 18 Cambodian soldiers on July 29?
The Cambodian Ministry of Interior stated that if Thailand is truly right, why should Thailand be afraid of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) when Cambodia asks it to resolve the border dispute?