Opinion: The Border Lie: Thailand’s Two-Faced Game with Cambodia
Opinion: The Border Lie: Thailand’s Two-Faced Game with Cambodia
In the latest chapter of Thai-Cambodian border tensions, Thai authorities have once again demonstrated their skill — not in diplomacy or regional cooperation — but in the art of deception. While Thailand’s Border Command Centre (Sor Bor Tor Kor) has publicly declared that all checkpoints along the Cambodian border remain open, the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story.
Reports from multiple provinces, including Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey, confirm that several checkpoints have been unilaterally and quietly closed by Thai forces. Commerce has stalled, workers have been stranded and transportation halted — yet Bangkok continues to insist everything is “open”.
This is not a bureaucratic misstep. It is an outright contradiction between Thailand’s words and its actions — a clear display of state-sponsored misinformation crafted to manipulate public perception both domestically and internationally. This is professional dishonesty, delivered with a diplomatic smile and repeated through press briefings aimed at preserving Thailand’s image while violating trust on the ground.
The Inconsistency Laid Bare
Let us examine the facts:
1. Official Statement (June 24, 2025) – Thailand’s Border Command Centre declared: “All border checkpoints remain open. There is no policy to cut power or hinder cross-border movement. We do not want to burden the people of both countries.”
2. Ground Reality – Cambodian citizens and business operators report closures at major border gates such as O’Smach and Poipet. Cambodian military personnel stationed in those areas confirm that Thai officials restricted movement without prior notice, citing vague and shifting “security concerns.”
3. Conflicting Thai Narratives – While the central command insists the border is open, Thai provincial governors and local military units offer conflicting justifications. Some refer to temporary “security reassessments,” while others blame alleged Cambodian provocations—unsubstantiated claims that conveniently shift responsibility.
This is not miscommunication. It is a calculated contradiction. The Thai government speaks with one voice for the media and another behind the barbed wire.
A Flawed Chain of Command—or an Intentional Lie?
These discrepancies demand serious scrutiny. Is this confusion the result of a dysfunctional chain of command within the Thai state? Or is it a deliberate act of disinformation?
If the problem is a breakdown in communication, then it exposes severe flaws in Thailand’s internal command structure. How can a government claim to maintain sovereignty and order if it cannot ensure consistent actions among its military and civilian institutions?
But if this is deliberate — if the Thai government is knowingly telling one story to the public while instructing local authorities to do the opposite — then it is far more troubling. This would be a calculated diplomatic lie, not just to Cambodia but to the international community. It undermines trust, distorts bilateral engagement and reveals a cynical manipulation of truth.
Either way, Thailand presents itself as an unreliable and untrustworthy partner — one whose words cannot be taken at face value.
Deception Has Consequences
Trust between nations is built on transparency, coordination and mutual respect — not on media theatrics or strategic misinformation. When a state lies about border closures — while livelihoods and lives are disrupted — it does not just strain relations; it shatters credibility.
Cambodia has shown maturity and responsibility. Despite these provocations, the Cambodian side has worked to avoid escalation, choosing dialogue over confrontation. But goodwill has its limits.
If Thailand continues down this path — telling its people and the world that the border is open while secretly locking the gates — it must be ready to face diplomatic consequences and reputational damage.
In international diplomacy, there is no place for professional liars. Only trustworthy partners endure.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.
