Cambodian Senate and Information Ministry Reject Thai Sovereignty Claims, Cite Updated Occupation Figures

Two arms of the Cambodian government pushed back on Thailand the same day. The Senate rejected claims made by Thailand's Senate President after Hun Sen criticized Thai border tactics at the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference, warning of a Thai 'salami-slicing strategy' of incremental ground changes and saying 'a ceasefire cannot be used as a basis for creating new territorial rights, legitimising illegal occupation, or consolidating a unilateral fait accompli.' Separately, Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said 'maps do not move with troops' and that military presence 'cannot redraw an international boundary,' citing an updated tally of 116 shipping containers across 24 locations and roughly 13,259 civilians from 3,318 families unable to return in disputed areas, alongside satellite-documented destruction of 627 structures since the ceasefire. Thailand's Senate had earlier rejected Cambodia's accusations as 'unfounded allegations and misinformation.' A similar Cambodian statement on September 1 reiterated that 'a temporary cessation of hostilities cannot be transformed into a source of territorial title.'