Cambodia warns failure to halt Thai military action could threaten other weaker states

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence said on December 11 that Thailand’s recent repeated cross-border armed operations had raised concerns over regional security. At a press briefing, ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said that if the international community failed to stop Thai military action promptly and effectively, more weaker states could face similar threats in future and regional peace would be seriously affected. According to Cambodia’s account, Thai troops had repeatedly used heavy weapons to attack residential areas along the Cambodia–Thailand border in recent days, killing at least 10 civilians, including an infant, injuring about 60 people and forcing nearly 200,000 local residents to evacuate. Cambodia accused Thai forces of seriously violating international law and the two sides’ peace agreement, posing a substantial challenge to regional stability. The ministry called on the international community to unequivocally condemn Thailand’s “aggressive actions” and “war crimes.” It also demanded that Thailand immediately stop military operations, withdraw troops that had entered Cambodian territory and recommit to its existing peace pledges. Cambodia stressed that all its countermeasures strictly targeted Thai military objectives, did not involve civilian facilities and fully complied with international law and humanitarian law. As Thai reinforcements continued, Cambodian troops would continue fulfilling their duty to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Compiled reporting by this station