PHNOM PENH, December 19, 2025 — In a powerful and widely shared statement, H.E. Jean-François Tain, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and former head of RFI Cambodia, has issued a firm international appeal over escalating tensions linked to Thai aggression against Cambodia along the shared border.
Published via his official social media platforms, the statement—titled “Cambodia in the Face of Thai Aggression”—combines diplomatic clarity with a deeply emotional defense of Cambodia’s sovereignty, people, and historical memory.
Cambodia Responds to Thai Aggression: “Not a War by Choice”
Minister Tain opened by stressing that Cambodia has not chosen conflict. Instead, he described the situation as a forced response to repeated and deliberate Thai aggression against Cambodia, marked by calculated military escalation.
- Deep Military Incursions: When ground advances stalled, Thailand allegedly escalated to aerial operations. According to Tain, F-16 and Gripen fighter jets conducted air strikes reaching up to 90 kilometers inside Cambodian territory.
- Civilian and Cultural Targets: The Minister stated that the attacks extended beyond military installations, impacting civilians, sacred temples, and critical infrastructure.
- Asymmetric Resistance: Despite facing superior military technology, Cambodian forces have prevented permanent territorial losses, reinforcing the view that these attacks aim more at intimidation than conquest.
A War of Narratives: Minister Tain Accuses Thailand
In a section titled “I Accuse Thailand,” Minister Tain sharply criticized the political motivations behind the conflict, asserting that Thai aggression against Cambodia is being used as a domestic political tool.
“I accuse Thailand of turning offense into defense, provocation into pretext, and falsehood into doctrine,” he wrote.
He further argued that the manufactured conflict serves to distract the Thai public from internal political instability, portraying Cambodia as an external threat to preserve fragile authority at home.
The Cost of Blood and the Power of Law
Reflecting on Cambodia’s painful history from 1970 to 1998, the Minister reminded citizens that Cambodians understand the true cost of war. He praised the unity displayed across provinces, villages, and cities as genuine and enduring.
- National Resolve: A call for both civilians and soldiers to remain steadfast and disciplined.
- International Law: An insistence that treaties, sovereignty, and international legal frameworks will ultimately prevail over force.
- The Fragility of Falsehood: Tain warned that aggression built on misinformation cannot endure, describing it as “advancing on the fragile crutch of lies.”
A Global Appeal: Why Thai Aggression Against Cambodia Matters
In his closing remarks, Minister Tain urged the international community not to remain silent, cautioning that unchecked aggression sets a dangerous precedent.
“An aggression tolerated becomes a precedent,” he warned, noting that failure to respond to Thai aggression against Cambodia could encourage similar violations of international law elsewhere.
He concluded with a resolute declaration:
“We will abandon neither our land, nor our rights, nor our memory, nor our dignity.”