Thai army rejects Cambodia’s ‘false rhetoric’, denies war or environmental crimes
Thai army spokesman says Cambodia’s accusations, including “environmental crime” claims, are distortions without evidence, and urges a return to fact-based bilateral talks.
The Royal Thai Army has rejected statements from the Cambodian side as “baseless” and a distortion of facts, insisting Thai operations comply with international law and that Thailand remains committed to bilateral negotiations.
The response followed a Cambodian statement carried by Fresh News on December 23, 2025, which accused Thailand over the border situation, including claims that Thailand had committed “environmental crimes”.
Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said the allegations were a serious misrepresentation of facts and reflected an attempt to unfairly shift blame for tensions that, he said, Cambodia had created.
Winthai said Thai military operations are conducted to defend national sovereignty and are guided by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and strict respect for international humanitarian law. He said Thailand has never had any policy or engaged in any action aimed at attacking civilians, undermining regional peace, or damaging the environment and natural resources, as alleged.
He said that, on the contrary, Cambodia has repeatedly engaged in provocative behaviour, used military force and spread disinformation, including references to unilateral maps that are not internationally recognised.
Winthai added that accusations of war crimes, environmental crimes, or breaches of peace agreements were made without evidence, offered no benefit to resolving the situation, and reflected political rhetoric rather than facts and international law.
Thailand, he said, remains committed to respecting international law, human rights and the protection of natural resources. He called on Cambodia to stop disseminating false information, refrain from provocative statements, and return to bilateral talks based on facts.
