Hun Sen: Never Asked Thailand to Reopen Border; ‘Fine’ If It Stays Closed 500 Years

Brickinfo News Agency – Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has publicly addressed recent statements by Thai leaders regarding the potential reopening of the border checkpoints between the two nations, firmly asserting that Cambodia has never requested such a move since Thailand unilaterally closed the border. Posting on his Facebook page, the former Prime Minister acknowledged progress in bilateral relations, including the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from disputed areas, but clarified that the current talk of reopening the border by Thai officials appears to be an internal matter, possibly tied to upcoming elections in Thailand, leading to public confusion.

Hun Sen noted positive steps in easing tensions since the signing of a Joint Statement between Cambodia and Thailand, facilitated by the Malaysian Prime Minister and U.S. President Donald Trump as Peace Envoy. This progress includes the convening of Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Regional Boundary Committee (RBC) meetings, and the initial withdrawal of heavy weaponry under the supervision of the ASEAN Observers Team (AOT). He remarked that these developments are a positive step toward peace and should be celebrated.

However, the Cambodian leader expressed concern that repeated remarks from the Thai leadership, including the Prime Minister, about reopening border checkpoints have caused misunderstanding among both Cambodian and Thai citizens. This confusion has led some to believe that Cambodia is actively seeking the reopening of the border. Hun Sen stated his aim was to ensure the Cambodian public is not misled by this information, which he suggests is an internal political issue in Thailand.

Addressing his countrymen directly, Hun Sen reiterated a strong stance: “ever since Thailand unilaterally closed the border, Cambodia has never asked Thailand to reopen it.” He emphasized that the decision to keep the border closed rests entirely with Thailand, adding, “If Thailand wants to keep it closed for another 100 or even 500 years, that is entirely their decision. After all, the key is in Thailand’s hands.” He also highlighted that the closure has inadvertently stimulated local production growth by replacing Thai products with domestic goods in Cambodia.

The Senate President further conveyed his view to international counterparts, suggesting that Thailand’s border closure is not just a bilateral issue but a disruption to regional connectivity, impacting the ASEAN highway, ASEAN railway, and the Asia highway networks. He concluded by expressing his hope that his message reaches both the Thai leadership and public to clearly state that Cambodia is not pleading for the reopening of border checkpoints, and that the Cambodian people should not be misled into thinking their government is requesting cooperation on the matter.