AKP Phnom Penh, February 27, 2026 --

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia has categorically rejected allegations attributed to Thailand’s top diplomat, as reported by Thai media, claiming that Cambodia has used the Temple of Preah Vihear as a military station.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry’s spokesperson reaffirmed that the Temple of Preah Vihear is a sacred cultural and religious monument of Outstanding Universal Value and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The spokesperson stressed that the Temple has never been designated, developed, or used for military purposes.

The statement underlined Cambodia’s obligations as a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, affirming the country’s firm and full commitment to protecting and preserving the Temple and cultural property exclusively for peaceful, cultural, and religious functions.

According to the spokesperson, the presence of Cambodian security guards at the site is solely intended to protect cultural heritage and safeguard Cambodia’s sovereignty. This protective presence, the statement said, cannot be interpreted as military use of the Temple. The administration of the site remains under the authority of competent civilian heritage institutions, while any security arrangements are strictly limited, protective in nature, and proportionate to the need to safeguard the site.

The Ministry warned that attempts to portray the Temple of Preah Vihear as a military station disregard established legal realities, undermine international judicial authority, and pose risks to regional peace. It reiterated Cambodia’s steadfast commitment to international law, the protection of cultural heritage, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and cooperative engagement within ASEAN and the broader international community.

The spokesperson concluded by reaffirming that the Temple of Preah Vihear is, and will remain, a monument of peace, culture, and shared human heritage, and not a site for military purposes, adding that the protection of World Heritage Sites is a collective responsibility of the international community.

By C. Nika