AKP Phnom Penh, December 15, 2025 --

The Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) issued last night a statement dismissing the misinformation and distortion by the Thai side regarding the decision to suspend cross-border travel between Cambodia and Thailand.

According to the statement, following the RGC's decision to fully suspend entry and exit at Cambodia-Thailand border checkpoints with effect from Dec. 13, 2025, senior leaders and high-ranking officials of the Thai government – supported by certain unprofessional and extremist Thai commentators and media outlets – have repeatedly issued statements, analyses, and publications portraying Cambodia's decision as a violation of human rights and as contrary to international law and conventions.

“The Ministry of Interior wishes to clarify that, in the context of facing severe armed aggression by the Thai side – including the use of F-16 fighter aircraft, cluster munitions, toxic smoke, and projectiles penetrating deep into Cambodia's sovereign territory – international law obliges the government to give primary protection to the lives and safety of civilians, including Cambodian citizens and foreign nationals, with Thai nationals included. The suspension of cross-border travel is therefore a necessary measure to reduce the risk of civilian deaths and injuries resulting from armed attacks along the border between the two countries,” read the statement.

The Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior has also repeatedly provided clarifications in connection with press releases concerning the suspension of operations at Cambodia-Thailand border checkpoints, an issue that has already arisen on several occasions. Whether due to misunderstanding, lack of depth in comprehension, deliberate misinterpretation, or malicious intent to fabricate narratives, claims by Thai leaders, senior officials, commentators, and media that Cambodia's decision aims to detain or confine Thai nationals, restrict freedom of movement, or violate international law and conventions are entirely unfounded. On the contrary, such assertions reflect weaknesses in administrative governance, disregard for the Thai military's serious acts of aggression against Cambodia, or a lack of understanding of international law and conventions on the part of the Thai side.

“Once again, the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia wishes to clarify that the decision to suspend cross-border travel between Cambodia and Thailand applies only to land border crossings along the Cambodia-Thailand border, and does not include air travel or border crossings between Cambodia and other countries,” the statement underlined. 

Regarding air travel, it added, in the event that large numbers of Cambodian or Thai nationals wish to return to their respective countries of origin, the relevant authorities of each state should increase existing flight services accordingly.

By C. Nika