Cambodia Protests Thai-Led Media Tour of O'Smach Checkpoint, Ties It to Sovereignty Dispute

Thailand planned to take the ASEAN Observer Team plus Thai and international journalists to border areas including the O'Smach-Choam checkpoint on September 7 to show alleged online-scam operations. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra objected, saying the areas -- including two hotels roughly 397 metres from the checkpoint, adjacent to Border Marker No. 15 -- were seized by Thai forces during the December 2025 fighting and remain Cambodian territory under unilateral Thai control. 'The suspicion of criminal activity in one state's territory does not give the forces of another state the right to enter, occupy or exercise authority over that territory unilaterally,' he said, adding that 'online scams must not be used as a post-event justification for the illegal occupation of its territory by force.' Cambodia noted it had lodged a similar protest on February 2, 2026 over foreign military attachés visiting the same area.