Mr. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 19 December 2025 at 11.00 hr provided a summary of the weekly press briefing on Developments on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation, as follows:

Developments on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation

o The Protection of Thai Nationals in Cambodia

• Following Cambodia’s measure to suspend cross-border land travel, on 17 December 2025, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was compelled to submit another letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to register Thailand’s concern on this issue. Such a measure may constitute violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). It is not a measure limited to Thais, but also to other foreign nationals. Thailand requests that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urge Cambodia to comply with the relevant international obligations.

• Providing consular assistance to Thai nationals is one of the priority missions of the Ministry. In the case of Thai nationals in Cambodia, such assistance includes the issuance of travel documents, facilitation of travel within Cambodia, provision of temporary accommodation, procurement of airline tickets, and facilitation of exit permits from the host country.

• Since the armed clashes on 7 December 2025, the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Siem Reap have recommended that Thai nationals in Cambodia return to Thailand. To date, more than 400 Thai nationals have already returned home. They have also been in continuous contact with the network of Thai nationals to check on their safety and to advise them to return to Thailand.

• As for the Thai nationals in Poipet, the Embassy and the Consulate-General have submitted a letter to the Cambodian Ministry of Interior requesting that Thai nationals wishing to return to Thailand be able to do so through the land border checkpoint. However, this request was turned down by the Cambodian side.

• Following the announcement of the suspension of all land border crossings for all foreign nationals, the Embassy and the Consulate-General continue to update Thai nationals in Poipet with the latest information and have opened registration for those wishing to return to Thailand by air.

• With regard to reports concerning the arrangement of charter flights, there are currently many commercial flights between Thailand and Cambodia that still have sufficient seats available. Therefore, these commercial flights are the first option, as they are faster, more convenient, and offer greater scheduling flexibility. However, should there be a need to use charter flights, the Ministry has been in regular contact with the relevant airlines.

Cambodia’s dissemination of false and distorted information

• The Cambodian side continues to disseminate false and distorted information on a regular basis. The two latest examples are as follows:

(1) Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense claimed that Thailand deployed F-16 fighter to drop two bombs in the geography of Poipet. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that the target of the said operation was the BM-21 missile storage facility, which is not located in the city center of Poipet. All Thai operations are conducted with precision and solely at verified military targets. They are subject to multiple layers of scrutiny, including intelligence, military, and international legal compliance, with the utmost care taken to avoid impact on civilians. In contrast, intelligence has pointed to the Cambodian side, which has deployed or relocated its forces and military equipment in proximity to civilian communities, thereby increasing risks to its own population and contravening principles of international humanitarian law.

(2) Certain Cambodian media reported that over 5,000 Thai soldiers were killed on the battlefield. Some reports were even accompanied by AI-generated images. This figure is entirely false and inconsistent with the official record, which has been systematically verified by the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Thailand places the utmost importance on honoring the lives of every soldier who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Appropriate compensation and assistance have been provided to the families of the fallen and injured soldiers. In contrast, it is the Cambodian side that has not shown regard for the sacrifices made by its soldiers.