AKP Phnom Penh, April 25, 2026 --

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has published an opinion piece reflecting points raised in a protest letter from Cambodia’s Minister of Information, following objections to the newspaper’s use of the term “Scambodia” in a recent article.

Ministry of Information spokesperson H.E. Tep Asnarith said on April 24, 2026, that the opinion article was published only hours after WSJ ran a report titled “How Cybercrime Became a Leading Industry in ‘Scambodia’.” H.E. Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra argued that the term, even when placed in quotation marks and explained by editors, was derogatory and harmful to the country’s reputation.

According to the spokesperson, H.E. Neth Pheaktra wrote to WSJ editors and management, stressing that international media outlets should avoid language that could be interpreted as discriminatory or damaging to the dignity of an entire nation and its people.

H.E. Tep Asnarith said WSJ’s subsequent publication of the opinion piece showed recognition of Cambodia’s protest and provided an opportunity for readers worldwide to better understand the country’s position, commitment, and efforts to combat online scam networks.

Despite the publication, the Ministry of Information said it continues to demand that WSJ formally remove the word “Scambodia,” calling it an insulting term that defames Cambodia’s national image.

The Ministry further stated that using the name of a sovereign country as a prejudicial headline amounted to racial discrimination and a serious violation of journalistic ethics.

Cambodia also said it would continue monitoring the matter closely in order to defend the country’s dignity, sovereignty, and standing in the international community.

The spokesperson added that the Ministry of Information had responded immediately after the original article was published, requesting corrections to what it described as professional misconduct and asking the newspaper to also report on Cambodia’s efforts to dismantle transnational cybercrime networks operating in the region.

By C. Nika