Thailand Cannot Hide the Truth: The World Saw Its Bombs Fall on Cambodia
The recent armed aggression by the Thai military against the Kingdom of Cambodia is not just an assault on our territorial sovereignty — it is an assault on truth itself. While the people of Oddar Meanchey continue to count the cost of Thai airstrikes, Bangkok dares to deny what the world already knows: Thai aircraft dropped bombs, including the deadly MK-84, on Cambodian soil.
For days, as the battles raged along our northern border, the Royal Thai Army and Air Force boasted of their “successful missions” to strike Cambodian positions. Thai state-aligned media even parroted these claims, framing their cross-border attacks as military triumphs. Yet now, facing growing international condemnation, Thailand shamelessly attempts to erase its own admissions, denying that it bombed Cambodian territory and killed and injured civilians.
The truth is irrefutable. On August 1, a delegation of foreign diplomats, military attachés and international observers visited Oddar Meanchey province. They witnessed with their own eyes the charred remains of homes, the impact craters and fragments of Thai ordnance. They met with Cambodian civilians who lost loved ones to Thai bombs. No amount of denial from Bangkok can erase the evidence of its cruelty.
The world must recognise that Thailand is not the victim — it is the aggressor. No sovereign state can claim “self-defence” while sending fighter jets, artillery and heavy bombs deep into its neighbour’s territory. Thailand’s actions are not defensive; they are deliberate violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and a grave breach of international law.
By deploying MK-84 bombs, artillery barrages and aerial assaults, Thailand has crossed every red line of responsible state behaviour. These are weapons of war, used not to protect its own land, but to attack a peaceful neighbour. Cambodia has exercised the utmost restraint, defending only our legitimate territory and calling repeatedly for de-escalation. In contrast, Thailand has chosen to escalate, provoke and destroy.
Aggression is not determined by propaganda; it is determined by actions. And Thailand’s actions — its use of heavy weapons, its strikes on Cambodian villages and its calculated violation of our borders — leave no doubt about who the true aggressor is. History and the international community must hold Thailand accountable for every bomb dropped, every home destroyed and every innocent life lost.
Cambodia has opened its doors to international observers, shown the evidence and invited the world to witness the truth. Thailand, meanwhile, hides behind lies and denials. No matter how loudly Bangkok shouts, the facts speak louder: Thailand is the aggressor, and its attempt to rewrite history will fail.
The Kingdom of Cambodia calls on the international community, ASEAN, and the UN to hold Thailand accountable. True peace can only come when aggression is condemned, justice is pursued and the sovereignty of nations is respected. Cambodia seeks peace, but peace must be built on truth — and the truth is that Thailand has chosen war.
Thailand can deny the bombs — but it cannot deny its responsibility. Only by confronting the truth can our region secure lasting peace and protect the sovereignty of all nations
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
