AKP Phnom Penh, December 17, 2025 -- The Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence, H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, has reaffirmed Cambodia’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law, in response to what she described as Thailand’s aggressive and indiscriminate attacks.

Speaking at a press briefing here this morning, the spokeswoman stressed that Cambodia’s exercise of its right to self-defence is directed solely at Thai military targets and not at civilian areas, unlike the actions carried out by the Thai military.

“Conversely, the Thai side has deliberately attacked areas where Cambodian civilians reside, resulting in the deaths of 17 civilians, including one infant, and injuries to 77 innocent civilians as of 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 16, 2025,” she underlined.

“Thailand’s use of heavy and destructive weapons and equipment—including F-16 fighter jets, DTI-2 systems, bombing drones, cluster munitions and toxic gas—as well as the deployment of a large number of troops to encroach upon Cambodian territory, constitutes clear and irrefutable evidence of violations of the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and fundamental principles of international law,” she said. “Such irresponsible and illegal actions pose a grave threat not only to regional peace and stability, but also to the foundations of the international order.”

The Ministry of National Defence Spokeswoman called on the international community to strongly condemn Thailand’s violations of the Joint Declaration, its repeated war crimes, and other unlawful acts, and demanded that Thailand take full responsibility for these actions.

“Cambodia urges Thailand to immediately cease all hostile activities, withdraw its forces from Cambodian territory, and refrain from any further acts of incursion and aggression that threaten peace and stability in the region as a whole,” she concluded.

By Heng Panha