In response to the provocative statement made by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on the evening of July 24, where he publicly declared "give him time to let the Thai military properly teach Hun Sen a lesson," Hun Sen, the Chairman of the ruling party and President of the Senate in Cambodia, responded sternly that same night. Hun Sen harshly criticized Thaksin's actions as not only inciting war but also pursuing his personal political goals at the cost of innocent soldiers and civilians.
Hun Sen bluntly stated: "Thaksin uses 'retaliation against Hun Sen' as a pretext for war, his real intention is to provoke conflict, and the ultimate victims will be the innocent people." He further pointed out that this reveals Thaksin's warlike mentality and clearly exposes the political intentions of the Thai military to invade Cambodian territory.
Hun Sen also unreservedly accused Thaksin of betraying the loyalty to the Thai King and the nation, and being brutally manipulative: in 2004, he launched operations in southern Thailand, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Muslim civilians. Hun Sen used this historical data to question his "loyalty" and "humanity."
Background of the Border Conflict: Political Confrontation or Public Opinion Game?
The starting point of this conflict was the brief exchange of fire at the "Emerald Triangle" border on May 28, 2025, which escalated regional tensions. Over several weeks, both sides accused each other of being aggressors and imposed sanctions, including cutting off border trade, electricity, and internet services.
As a former Prime Minister, Thaksin was once a long-term ally of Hun Sen, but their relationship abruptly deteriorated after Hun Sen leaked an audio conversation with his daughter—current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn. Hun Sen publicly stated that the recording was for "self-preservation," leading to rapid political turmoil in Thailand, with Paetongtarn being temporarily suspended from her duties.
After the outbreak of border hostilities on July 24, the Thai military deployed F-16 fighters for retaliatory airstrikes, while the Cambodian military responded with rockets and artillery. The fighting concentrated around the ancient temples of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Krabei, resulting in full-scale firefights that killed at least 12 people (including 11 Thai civilians and one soldier), injured dozens, and forced thousands to evacuate, according to The Times +1 and Wikipedia +1.
The Thai side accused the Cambodian military of targeting civilian residential areas and hospital facilities, severely violating the Geneva Conventions, and inciting domestic outrage. Hun Sen, however, insisted that the Cambodian military was merely defending itself, responding to Thai cross-border military provocations.
On a deeper level, Thaksin's remarks were not an isolated impulse. Nationalistic pressure within the Thai parliament and the military's distrust of the Pheu Thai government intensified emotions, turning war rhetoric into a political tool. Hun Sen, on the other hand, used nationalism and border sovereignty issues to consolidate his regime's legitimacy and establish authority for his son, Hun Manet.
Analysts point out that both Thailand and Hun Sen could use this crisis to smear each other, while simultaneously seeking international sympathy or support through border tensions, essentially part of a larger game of major power rivalry and regional influence competition.
What is the Future of the Situation?
Although the conflict has not escalated into a full-scale war, it is on the brink of danger. Hun Sen publicly accuses Thailand of igniting the war, while Thaksin stirs up nationalist sentiments. At this critical moment, Thailand, Cambodia, and even ASEAN need to quickly mediate and intervene, or else the tragedy will continue to unfold.
Hun Sen's final appeal: If remarks like Thaksin's are not curbed, they will only lead to more innocent people being caught in the crossfire, with national sovereignty and public safety facing severe threats.
Thaksin's remarks, named "retaliation against Hun Sen," were sternly refuted by Hun Sen as a war provocation that sacrifices military and civilian lives. Behind this are not only personal grievances between the leaders of the two countries but also a deep-seated competition over political power, border sovereignty, and transnational interests. Finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, avoiding civilian casualties, and restoring rational dialogue mechanisms have become the most urgent realities of the moment.
