Japan’s ambassador to Cambodia has pledged to report the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border dispute directly to the government in Tokyo, according to Cambodia’s Human Rights Committee.

In a statement posted on Facebook on February 12, 2026, the committee said Ueno Atsushi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Cambodia, committed during a meeting with Keo Remy, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, on February 9, 2026.

The committee said the discussion focused extensively on what it described as Thailand’s incursions into Cambodian territory.

Despite a ceasefire agreement signed on December 27, 2025, the committee claimed that around 90,000 Cambodian displaced people have yet to return home safely. It is alleged that Thai forces continue to occupy Cambodian land unlawfully and have taken measures, including the deployment of barbed wire and shipping containers.

The Cambodian Human Rights Committee said these actions are having a serious impact on the fundamental rights of displaced civilians, particularly women, children, infants, elderly people, the sick, and those with disabilities. It cited restrictions affecting access to education, healthcare, adequate housing, and freedom of movement.

The statement further accused Thai forces of looting property and constructing new buildings in an attempt to establish what it called a new identity on Cambodian sovereign territory. It also alleged that during fighting in late December 2025, Thai forces used cluster munitions, toxic smoke, and fighter aircraft, including F-16, Gripen, and T-50 jets, in attacks that damaged civilian homes and infrastructure.

Thailand has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.

On December 27, 2025, the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh issued a statement expressing full support for the ceasefire agreement reached between Cambodia and Thailand that same day. Japan said it strongly hoped both sides would fully implement the agreement.

The embassy added that the Japanese government intends to continue diplomatic efforts to help ease tensions and encourage compliance with the ceasefire, in cooperation with the United States and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Cambodian government has recently reported that more than 110,000 Cambodian civilians have been displaced and lost land and homes as a result of what it describes as Thailand’s acts of aggression.

The border dispute remains a sensitive issue, with humanitarian and diplomatic implications extending beyond the two neighbouring countries.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has firmly rejected any attempt to alter the Cambodia-Thailand border or to occupy Cambodian territory in violation of international law.

Speaking at a ceremony with top performing students on February 10, 2026, Hun Manet said the border between Cambodia and Thailand is an international boundary between two sovereign states, protected under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

He stressed that Cambodia maintains an uncompromising position in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, both now and in the future. The government, he said, will use all available means consistent with international law to safeguard the country’s territory.

Hun Manet added that Cambodia has consistently sought to resolve border issues with Thailand through peaceful mechanisms, in line with international law and existing bilateral agreements signed by both sides. He made clear that Phnom Penh does not recognise any unilateral change to the border or any occupation of land carried out in breach of international law or through the use of force.

The remarks come amid renewed public debate over border tensions between the two neighbours.

On February 9, Sek Socheat, a development and research adviser, wrote on Facebook that Thailand would not forget what he described as violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty. He argued that Cambodia’s leaders and people across the political spectrum must unite to build a strong national capacity to defend the country’s territory.

Sek Socheat warned that Cambodia should not expect an aggressor to respect international law, nor assume that appeals alone would prevent territorial encroachment. He said history shows that invading powers do not respond to the pleas of victims.

Meanwhile, former opposition lawmaker Suon Rida called on the government to release opposition leader Kem Sokha and other political prisoners. Writing on February 12, 2026, he urged national reconciliation so that all political forces could contribute to defending the country.

Suon Rida described Kem Sokha as a political leader who prioritises national interests and said that at a time of potential danger, unity among Cambodians is essential. Only through solidarity, he said, can the country effectively respond to external threats.

Tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border have flared periodically over the years, often stirring strong nationalist sentiment on both sides. The latest statements underscore the sensitivity of the issue and its continued political significance within Cambodia.

The United States has praised Cambodia as a reliable and professional partner following joint efforts to arrest and deport an American citizen accused of multiple criminal offences.

In a statement posted on Facebook on February 11, 2026, the US Embassy in Phnom Penh thanked Cambodian authorities for what it described as strong and professional cooperation. The embassy said the case sends a clear message that individuals attempting to evade justice will ultimately be identified and held accountable under the law.

According to the statement, special agents from the Diplomatic Security Service, assigned to the Overseas Criminal Investigations unit at the US Embassy in Cambodia, successfully coordinated the operation. The American suspect had been wanted in the United States in connection with several alleged crimes, including illegal weapons possession and other serious offences, some of them related to narcotics.

The embassy said its agents located the individual in Cambodia and worked closely with local authorities to arrange the arrest and deportation. The suspect was then returned to the United States under the custody of deputies from the US Marshals Service.

The development comes amid a broader crackdown by Cambodian authorities on online crime.

On February 5, 2026, the Ministry of Interior announced a renewed campaign to eliminate online criminal activity by April 2026. Officials said Cambodia has been affected by online fraud schemes for an extended period and is determined to address the issue decisively.

In a separate statement released on February 11, 2026, the General Department of Immigration reported that on February 8, it deported more than 300 Chinese nationals, 312 in total, over their alleged involvement in online scam operations.

The same report stated that since February 1, 2026, Cambodia has expelled 4,015 foreign nationals linked to online fraud cases. Among those removed was an American citizen deported on February 6 in connection with illegal entry and unlawful employment in Cambodia.

The series of actions highlights increased cooperation between Cambodian authorities and international partners as the country seeks to tackle transnational crime and online scams that have drawn growing regional and global concern.

A leading Cambodian researcher has said that Thailand’s recent election will not resolve the long-running border dispute between the two countries.

Chhang Youk, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, wrote on Facebook that while Thailand’s election is an important political development, it cannot be seen as the single or decisive factor shaping tensions along the Cambodian-Thai border.

He said the dispute is both a cause and a consequence of internal political competition in Thailand. According to him, Thai political groups have at times drawn on historical tensions with Cambodia to foster national unity and advance their own domestic agendas.

Chhang Youk, known internationally for his work documenting the history of the Khmer Rouge, argued that an election alone cannot bring an end to such a complex and deeply rooted international issue. Border disputes tied to generations of historical grievances cannot be resolved by a single event, he said, not even by a peace agreement.

Instead, he suggested that Cambodia’s government should adopt a long-term and multi-sector strategy. He called for coordinated efforts across politics, diplomacy, economics, the military, and social and cultural fields to respond to what he described as continued encroachment by Thailand. He also accused Thailand of portraying Cambodia as the instigator of border tensions while, in his words, occupying 14 disputed areas of Cambodian territory.

The comments come as Thai media reported the results of the country’s prime ministerial election, which concluded on the evening of February 8, 2026. According to local outlets, the Bhumjaithai Party led by Anutin Charnvirakul secured 194 seats, the largest share among five major parties.

The Thai People’s Party won 116 seats, Pheu Thai took 76, Kla Tham secured 57, and the Democrat Party gained 22 seats.

Reports indicate that Bhumjaithai performed particularly strongly in provinces bordering Cambodia, winning most seats in those areas.

On February 8, Reuters reported that Anutin Charnvirakul had campaigned on a platform that emphasized nationalism. During a rally in Bangkok last month, he pledged to devote his life to defending Thailand and urged voters to back Bhumjaithai to safeguard the country’s territory in the future.

Meanwhile, Men Nat, head of the Cambodian Watchdog Council, wrote on Facebook that regardless of who leads Thailand, many Thai politicians continue to pursue ambitions toward Cambodian territory. He said this stemmed from what he described as differing interpretations of history that have fueled expansionist aspirations over time.

The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has flared intermittently over the years, often becoming entangled with domestic political pressures on both sides. Observers say the latest election may reshape political dynamics in Bangkok, but fundamental issues tied to history and sovereignty remain unresolved.

A Cambodian watchdog has voiced support for Prime Minister Hun Manet’s call for cooperation and technical assistance from France, saying the move is a targeted and appropriate response to the ongoing border dispute with Thailand.

Man Nat, president of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, said he agrees with Hun Manet in seeking French involvement, arguing that Thailand is currently encroaching on Cambodian territory in violation of international law.

Writing on his Facebook account on Thursday, Man Nat said the request for cooperation is necessary, noting that France, as Cambodia’s former colonial power, was involved in negotiating a number of historical agreements and treaties with Cambodia’s neighboring countries.

He said Hun Manet should request French technical experts to help verify large-scale 1 to 20,000 maps against the existing Cambodia-Thailand border line, which is marked by 73 boundary pillars. This process, he said, should also include a detailed review of reports and agreed technical records that both sides have relied on in the past.

Man Nat also urged the prime minister to seek France’s support as a legal witness should Cambodia pursue cases against Thailand at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

To strengthen Cambodia’s position further, he suggested that Hun Manet should hold direct talks with Emmanuel Macron to apply diplomatic pressure on Thailand to withdraw its troops from Cambodian sovereign territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said on Thursday that Hun Manet had sent a letter to the French president in response to France’s stated willingness to provide historical and technical documents related to the Cambodia-Thailand international border, should Cambodia formally request them.

The prime minister said Cambodia places high importance on France’s role, not only as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, but also as a leading supporter of global governance, international law, and multilateralism. He added that France remains a long-term partner bound to Cambodia through mutual respect, shared history, and common values.

On the same issue, French Ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet told Senate President Hun Sen during a meeting on July 10, 2025, that France supports Cambodia’s position in seeking a peaceful resolution to the sensitive border dispute based on international law through the International Court of Justice.

The French government has also pledged to provide relevant documentation to assist Cambodia in any legal action at international courts concerning the border dispute with Thailand.

A former senior commander of the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front has warned the Cambodian government to exercise extreme caution in its border dispute with Thailand, saying Bangkok could take Cambodia to the International Court of Justice at any time, while Cambodia would have no legal right to file a counter case.

Chum Chheang, a former high-ranking military official from the former resistance movement, said Thailand retains the option to bring a territorial case before the International Court of Justice, known as the ICJ, whereas Cambodia is legally barred from doing the same.

Writing on his Facebook account on February 4, Chum Chheang cited Articles 34, 35, and 36 of the ICJ Statute, arguing that Cambodia has no standing to initiate legal proceedings against Thailand at the court.

He said this is because Thailand withdrew its declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ on January 3, 1970. Since then, he said, the court has had no jurisdiction over Thailand unless Bangkok gives its explicit consent.

By contrast, he argued that Thailand can file a case against Cambodia at any time because Cambodia continues to recognize the court’s jurisdiction. He cited Article 53 of the ICJ Statute, which allows a state to bring a case against another state that accepts the court’s authority, even if the applicant state itself does not participate in the proceedings.

Chum Chheang said Thailand has a long record of failing to comply with ICJ rulings, pointing to the 1962 judgment on the Preah Vihear temple and the court’s 2013 interpretation of that ruling. He said Thailand only withdrew its troops from the area after strong pressure from the United States, rather than out of respect for the court’s decisions.

He added that ongoing disputes over the areas surrounding the temple stem from the 1962 ruling, which clearly stated that Preah Vihear lies under Cambodian sovereignty but did not precisely define the surrounding territory. This, he said, allowed Thailand to selectively rely on the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty, while later rejecting the 1910 Franco-Siamese map and related boundary markers, a disagreement that continues to fuel tensions today.

Chum Chheang also pointed to Article 36 of the ICJ Statute, arguing that recognition of the court’s jurisdiction does not guarantee protection of national sovereignty, but instead often reflects the balance of power between strong and weak states.

He noted that most countries worldwide do not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, only the United Kingdom continues to do so.

Following clashes with Thai forces in the Mum Bei area, the Cambodian government announced on June 4, 2025, that it had submitted a case to the ICJ concerning Mum Bei, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, and Ta Krabey temples. The filing was made on June 2, with officials saying it aimed to ensure a fair and impartial resolution with Thailand.

However, since that announcement, Cambodian authorities have not publicly revisited or updated the status of the case, even as Phnom Penh has repeatedly accused Thailand of territorial encroachment and past military occupation during two earlier conflicts.

The Cambodia Daily has not been able to reach government spokesperson Pen Bona for comment on the status of the case as of the time of publication.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong protest against Thailand over what it says was an unauthorized inspection of a hotel site in Banteay Meanchey province, calling the move a serious violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty.

In a statement released on February 3 and made public on Wednesday, the ministry said the visit took place in O Smach district under the leadership of the head of Thai military intelligence, without permission from the Cambodian government.

According to the statement, the Thai official led a group of foreign military attachés to inspect a hotel and nearby locations close to border marker number 15, around 397 metres from the O Smach international border crossing. Cambodia says the area is on its territory but is currently under illegal occupation by Thai forces.

The ministry said the inspection amounted to a grave breach of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that the site lies within Cambodian territory near the border marker.

It added that the area was seized by Thai forces using military force during what it described as an incursion into Cambodia between December 7 and December 27, 2025.

Cambodia said it firmly rejects and condemns the actions of the Thai military, including what it called Thailand’s unlawful exercise of authority through organising the visit. The ministry said the move violated the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter, and accused Thailand of attempting to legitimise its occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory.

Thailand’s Khaosod newspaper reported on February 2, 2026, that the head of Thai military intelligence had led foreign military attachés from 20 countries, along with officials from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, to inspect sites suspected of being involved in cross border scam operations along the Thai Cambodian border.

The director general of Thai military intelligence, Thiranan Nanta Kwang, was quoted as saying the visit was part of an open mission aimed at informing the international community about cross border crime in the Chong Chom O Smach border area of Surin province.

However, Kin Phea, president of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, dismissed the explanation. He said the Thai military was using crime prevention as a pretext to reframe what he described as a territorial war against Cambodia into an anti scam operation, and warned that similar tactics could be used against other neighbouring countries, including Laos and Myanmar.

The lifting of US restrictions on arms exports to Cambodia has been described as a significant symbol of renewed American confidence in the country, according to the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.

Casey Barnett said the decision by the United States Department of Commerce marked an important turning point in bilateral relations and opened the door for Cambodia to legally access advanced American technology in the future.

Writing on social media, Casey Barnett said the move created a major opportunity for Cambodia to engage more fully and lawfully with United States suppliers of high end technology and defence related equipment.

He said he was currently in Singapore holding meetings with American aviation and defence companies, encouraging them to consider supplying high quality products that could support Cambodia’s security and economic development.

On February 3, 2026, the United States Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Industry and Security, issued a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations. The amendment removed Cambodia from Country Group D Five, a category that included countries subject to US arms export restrictions.

According to the same announcement, the removal of Cambodia’s designation formally ended all restrictions related to arms sanctions, effective from February 3, 2026.

The decision follows a broader shift in United States policy after Donald Trump witnessed the signing of a Cambodia Thailand peace agreement on October 26, 2025. Following that event, the White House announced the lifting of the arms embargo on Cambodia, along with an expansion of training opportunities for Cambodian officials at United States military academies, including West Point and the Air Force Academy.

The statement also confirmed the resumption of joint military exercises between the two countries, known as Angkor Sentinel.

Observers note that Cambodia United States relations over the past three decades have often been strained, particularly since Cambodia suspended joint military drills with the United States in 2017. Ties deteriorated further in 2019 after the demolition of US funded facilities at Ream Naval Base.

The latest move is seen as a significant step toward rebuilding cooperation after years of tension.

Social observers in Cambodia say the state’s failure to pay military salaries through the banking system and its decision not to include soldiers in the national social security scheme amount to a serious strategic error in strengthening national defence.

Analysts argue that concerns over information security have been used to justify keeping military pay outside formal banking channels and excluding soldiers from the National Social Security Fund, known as NSSF. They say this approach undermines efforts to modernise military administration and weakens social protection for service members.

Writing on Facebook on Tuesday, Pa Chanroeun, president of the Cambodia Institute for Democracy, said paying soldiers through banks is a basic marker of good governance and transparency in modern public administration. He said the system helps ensure salaries reach soldiers directly and reduces the risk of irregularities.

Pa Chanroeun noted that advanced countries, including the United States, France, and Japan, have long paid their armed forces through banking systems. He added that Cambodia could adopt secure, encrypted digital payment platforms to protect sensitive information while maintaining confidentiality and national security.

He also rejected the idea that military hospitals could replace a comprehensive social security system, calling it a fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between medical treatment and social protection.

Pa Chanroeun said social security offers far broader benefits, including protection against work-related risks such as injury or disability and long-term pension sustainability, none of which can be provided by military hospitals alone. He added that social security coverage would allow soldiers to access healthcare nationwide, particularly in emergencies or when stationed in remote areas.

He argued that extending NSSF cards to soldiers’ families would strengthen national defence by improving family welfare, boosting morale, and reinforcing loyalty within the armed forces. He said it would also act as a financial safety net for lower-income soldiers who are vulnerable to high family healthcare costs.

At a public forum on macroeconomic management and the 2026 national budget on February 2, Chan Sothea, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said the government’s decision not to use bank transfers or issue NSSF cards to the military was linked to national defence considerations.

Chan Sothea said that while soldiers do not use NSSF cards, they receive free treatment at military hospitals, which the government has strengthened. He added that during past clashes with Thailand, civilian hospitals also treated soldiers free of charge. The government, he said, also provides a daily food allowance of 20,000 riel to soldiers receiving medical care to help cover living costs.

However, several Cambodian soldiers told The Cambodia Daily on condition of anonymity that unit-based cash salary payments are vulnerable to serious corruption. They said commanding officers routinely deduct portions of soldiers’ pay under various pretexts without clear justification.

Social monitors in Cambodia are urging the government and the courts to consider granting pardons to activists linked to the Paris Peace Accords, saying such a move would demonstrate a genuine commitment to democracy and full respect for human rights in the eyes of the international community.

Speaking to The Cambodia Daily on Tuesday, development and research adviser Sek Socheat said the continued prosecution and detention of social activists, including Srun Srorn and Pheung Sophea, along with others, was widely viewed by both domestic and international observers as unjust and brought no benefit to Cambodia.

He argued that the cases were particularly damaging at a time when the country was facing pressure linked to actions by a neighbouring state, and warned that ongoing legal action over the activists’ public statements could harm Cambodia’s long-term national interests.

Sek Socheat said arrests and prosecutions over criticism of government shortcomings were not a solution, but instead risked deepening the problems being raised. He added that such measures also increased Cambodia’s exposure to international criticism, even as global standards around democracy and universal human rights were under strain.

On February 2, 2026, the Supreme Court of Cambodia rejected appeals seeking the release or bail of three Paris Peace Accords activists, Pheung Sophea, Srun Srorn, and San Seth. They are charged with incitement to cause serious disorder to social security under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

The court upheld a December 2025 decision by the Appeal Court, which ruled that the bail applications were filed outside the legally permitted time frame.

The three activists were arrested on July 23, 2024, in Siem Reap province while livestreaming on Facebook about the Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam Development Triangle Area, known as the CLV DTA.

This marks the sixth time that courts have rejected bail requests for the three, who have now spent more than a year and a half in pre-trial detention.

As of February 4, 2026, they have been held for 560 days across three separate facilities: Correctional Center 1 and Correctional Center 2 in Phnom Penh, and Correctional Center 3 in Tbong Khmum province.

Advocacy groups based in Australia say the extradition of Chen Zhi from Cambodia without judicial process raises serious concerns about political and economic arrangements between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the Chinese Communist Party, which they say grant special privileges to Chinese nationals in Cambodia.

The Cambodia Advocacy Team said in an analysis released on Tuesday that the rapid and forced removal of Chen Zhi without following Cambodian legal procedures appeared aimed at preventing court scrutiny that could have exposed links involving Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet.

The group said Chen Zhi held a status equivalent to that of a cabinet minister and was involved in wide-ranging social and economic activities, including scholarship programmes and leadership roles at Prince Bank. These activities, it argued, pointed to what it described as a special and opaque relationship with Cambodia’s top leadership.

Based on his roles and networks, the group alleged that Chen Zhi may have acted as a foreign intermediary, facilitating Chinese capital flows into Cambodia through ruling party elites and serving as a conduit in arrangements allowing Chinese nationals to settle in the country.

The analysis also criticised a statement by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the extradition, saying it demonstrated a serious breach of the constitution by prioritising international agreements over domestic supreme law. Cambodia’s constitution states that all citizens have the right to legal defence and are presumed innocent until a final court verdict is issued.

The advocacy group concluded that the extradition violated the constitution and Cambodian law, suggesting there were unresolved elements the government was seeking to conceal in the case involving Chen Zhi.

On January 7, 2026, Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior said that at the request of Chinese authorities, Cambodian police arrested three Chinese nationals, Chen Zhi, Xu Ji Liang, and Shao Ji Hui, and transferred them to the People’s Republic of China under bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

Following the extradition, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told Reuters on January 14, 2026, that the arrest of Chen Zhi reflected Cambodia’s commitment to enforcing the law and cracking down on transnational crime, particularly online scams. He said that while Chen Zhi held Cambodian citizenship, an investigation found it had not been obtained legally.

Records show that Chen Zhi acquired Cambodian nationality in 2014, received the honorific title of oknha in 2016, and in 2024 was appointed as an adviser to Hun Sen. All appointments, according to official procedures, were granted following royal approval at the request of Hun Sen.

Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, says the filing of lawsuits in Thai courts against Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet while diplomatic negotiations are underway is inappropriate and risks undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Writing on the Documentation Center of Cambodia Facebook page, Youk Chhang said civil lawsuits filed by senior Thai officials against Cambodian leaders in Thai domestic courts, at a time when the two countries are negotiating a border dispute, run counter to the spirit of peaceful resolution. He described the move as embarrassing and said it suggested Thailand lacked a unified foreign policy.

He argued that effective state-to-state diplomacy depends on coherence between military command and foreign policy. If one arm of the Thai government seeks diplomatic solutions while another turns to domestic or international courts, he said, it raises questions about who is truly directing Thai policy.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on January 29 that it strongly opposed a lawsuit filed by the secretary general of Thailand’s National Security Council against Hun Sen and Hun Manet in a Thai court. The Thai complaint accuses the two Cambodian leaders of instigating conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

The Cambodian government said the legal action was obstructing efforts by both countries’ leaders to build trust and was contrary to the shared commitment to uphold a ceasefire. It added that the move violated the spirit of the ASEAN Charter and the bilateral principles of friendship previously agreed by the two countries.

On January 27, Thailand’s National Security Council secretary general Chatchai Bangchawad told reporters that he and Thai prosecutors had filed complaints in a court in Surin province against Hun Sen and Hun Manet. He alleged they were responsible for the fighting that resulted in deaths, injuries, and property damage to Thai civilians in border areas.

Chatchai Bangchawad said the legal proceedings would continue following a decision by Thailand’s caretaker cabinet and were intended to pursue both civil and criminal liability. He added that if the Cambodian leaders held assets in Thailand, those could be seized to compensate alleged victims, and that Thai authorities would cooperate with international police mechanisms to seek their arrest.

Cambodian sources also referred to fighting in December 2025, during what they described as a second Thai military offensive. They alleged that Thai forces used weapons prohibited under international law and that civilian homes, temples, schools, and ancient Khmer sites were hit, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Thailand has not publicly responded to those claims.