Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has responded to comments made by his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who accused Cambodian leaders of lacking professionalism.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Cambodian National Congress on June 17, 2025, Hun Manet defended his government’s actions and criticized what he described as repeated provocations from Thailand.
He stated that while Thailand had remained silent when Cambodia refrained from responding to earlier provocations, it now accuses Cambodia of acting unprofessionally when Phnom Penh finally replies. He accused Thai officials of repeatedly pressuring Cambodia through threats and public criticism, while portraying themselves as faultless.
Hun Manet emphasized that Cambodia had exercised a high level of restraint in recent weeks, even in the face of actions he said included power cuts, internet disruptions, and other pressure tactics from the Thai side. He said Cambodia had chosen not to respond initially in order to avoid escalating tensions between neighboring countries.
The prime minister went on to allege that Thailand had engaged in daily military activity along the shared border, including troop movements, fortification upgrades and the deployment of heavy artillery. These actions, he said, continued even after the conclusion of a recent meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission.
Hun Manet questioned whether Thailand’s behavior could truly be considered “professional”, and defended Cambodia’s recent responses as lawful and limited to its own territory.
The exchange follows comments by Senate President Hun Sen, who stated on June 16 that he had planned to immediately close the border and suspend the import of Thai fruits and vegetables. However, following discussions with the Thai prime minister, both sides agreed to delay any such move for 24 hours, allowing time for Thailand to reopen its border crossings.
In the wake of these developments, Thai news outlet Khaosod released a video clip in which Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra criticized both Hun Sen and Hun Manet, describing their handling of the situation as “unprofessional” and “chaotic.”
Reacting to the Thai prime minister’s remarks, Cambodian opposition figure Meach Sovannara of the New Generation Party said the comments demonstrated a deep level of disrespect toward Cambodia and its leadership. He argued that Thailand itself had caused the current tensions and should not shift the blame to its neighbor.
