Cambodia Accuses Thai Media of Distorting Border Talks Letter

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 25, 2025) — Cambodia’s Defence Minister, Gen. Tea Seiha, accused Thai media outlets Thursday of misrepresenting an official letter on border talks, saying it was wrongly portrayed as a leak and inaccurately translated for the Thai public.

In a Facebook post, Tea Seiha said both official and unofficial Thai outlets took a formal letter addressed to Thailand’s Defence Minister, Gen. Nattaphon Narkphanit (Ret.), and presented it out of context.

He added that translations circulated in Thailand did not reflect the original meaning.
“This has gone beyond confusion,” he said, noting that even automated translations from Google or artificial intelligence platforms differed from the interpretations published in Thai reports.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said the letter referred to the ASEAN Chair’s Statement from a Dec. 22 special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, which welcomed renewed talks on a cease-fire. Cambodia agreed to convene a General Border Committee meeting on Dec. 24, proposing Malaysia host the session in a neutral venue.

The agenda included halting hostilities, implementing cease-fire agreements, ensuring the safe return of displaced civilians, and strengthening ASEAN’s observer role. Cambodia reiterated its support for ASEAN-led efforts and urged adherence to prior peace declarations.