Bangkok: The Royal Thai Army has firmly rejected a protest lodged by Cambodia, asserting its adherence to all existing agreements and urging Cambodia to verify its information to avoid potential conflict escalation.
According to Thai News Agency, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation filed a protest document to Thailand on February 3, 2026. The protest accused the Thai Army of leading a delegation of foreign military attach©s and law enforcement officers on an unauthorized visit to a hotel in Or Semet, Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia, on February 2, 2026. Cambodia claimed this visit violated its sovereignty, the United Nations Charter, and the ASEAN Charter.
Major General Winthai Suvari, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Army, clarified that the area in question is under Thai control, following troop deployment agreements reached after clashes ended on December 27, 2025. He emphasized that Thailand's actions are in line with the Joint Statement from the Special Session of the General Border Committee (GBC) between Thailand and Cambodia. This agreement allows both nations to maintain current troop deployments without additional troop movements or patrols towards opposing forces, ensuring no breach of international accords.
Thai authorities have also discovered evidence of transnational online fraud activities in the area, previously used for military operations against Thai forces. This discovery was part of security inspections, leading to the identification of casino scam centers. Thailand has coordinated with relevant officials for further investigation, aligning with Article 10 of the Joint Statement, which emphasizes cooperation in combating transnational crime, including cybercrime and human trafficking.
The Royal Thai Police had previously sought collaboration with Cambodia to inspect targeted areas to dismantle the scam network. However, Cambodia has not responded to this request. Thailand remains open to cooperation and is ready to provide information on scam centers located in Cambodian-controlled areas.
Regarding the alleged visit of foreign military attach©s to the O'Semed area, the Thai Army clarified that the delegation only traveled to Chong Chom, Surin Province, to assess border security and did not enter any contested zones, contrary to Cambodia's claims.
The Thai Army reiterated its commitment to the Joint Statement's terms and urged Cambodia to ensure the accuracy of its information dissemination to prevent misrepresentations that could escalate tensions. The Army highlighted the importance of adhering to Article 8 of the Joint Statement to maintain regional stability.