Thailand Opens Border Areas to Media for Fact-Checking
Thailand opened border areas to Thai and international media on September 7, allowing journalists and ASEAN observers to independently verify facts about the tense Thailand-Cambodia border situation firsthand.
Bangkok has opened key areas along its border with Cambodia to Thai and foreign media, allowing journalists and ASEAN observers to see the situation firsthand as Thailand reiterates its commitment to facts, bilateral mechanisms and dialogue.
Air Chief Marshal Praphat Sonchaidee, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force and director of the Joint Information Center on the Thailand-Cambodia situation, led a delegation of ASEAN Observer Team members from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, along with Thai and international media, to inspect border areas on 7 September. The visit was aimed at giving foreign journalists an opportunity to observe the situation directly, receive information from relevant authorities and independently verify facts on the ground.
Thailand said transparency and verifiable information were essential to maintaining credibility amid tensions along the border. Key areas visited included the O Smach-Chong Chom region, with structures and traces linked to previous developments. The Joint Information Center said the visit would allow both Thai and foreign media to use information gathered at the site in their reporting and independently assess the situation.
When asked what message Thailand wanted to convey to the international community, Praphat said Bangkok wanted information about the border situation to be based on facts that could be independently verified. Thai and foreign media would be given access to the areas as much as security conditions allowed. "We are not asking anyone to take sides, but asking them to consider the facts comprehensively," Praphat said.
Regarding Thailand's position on the border situation, the Joint Information Center director said Thailand remained committed to the Joint Statement issued on 27 December 2025. Thailand continued to prioritize public safety, reducing tensions and resolving issues through mechanisms mutually agreed upon by both sides. Thailand's goal was to achieve a safe and stable border that would contribute to lasting peace.
Praphat repeated Thailand's position that it was not seeking international support for either side, but wanted the situation to be assessed based on verified information. "Transparency, verification and dialogue are essential to building trust," he said, adding that verifiable facts were the foundation of trust and sustainable peace.
