A social media post by the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia has stirred up a storm of criticism from Thais after he reaffirmed Beijing’s unwavering support for Phnom Penh in ‘safeguarding its sovereignty’.
On his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin posted a picture of himself speaking at a lectern at an event in Phnom Penh, accompanied by the statement: ‘China firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and will always be a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’
On the surface, it’s a generic statement of the type that people expect from a diplomat in the country where he is posted. But an expression like ‘safeguarding its national sovereignty’ is a red flag for the neighbours when there’s a border dispute going on.
Mr Wang’s post quickly drew strong criticism from Thai netizens, many of whom flooded his page with comments questioning Beijing’s stance amid ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
One Facebook user asked whether President Xi Jinping himself would agree with such a statement in the context of disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.
Another suggested the ambassador was obliged to take such a line, saying: ‘If you are in Cambodia, of course you must post like this. If you don’t, Hun Sen will be upset.’
Another poster wrote sarcastically, ‘Okay, I already know who supplied weapons to the Khmer,’ referring to a recent debate over whether Beijing was arming Cambodia for a new fight. Even Thai officials acknowledged that the weapons in question were delivered long before the latest hostilities began.
Some Thai netizens went further, accusing Cambodia of harbouring call-centre scams that defraud victims worldwide of billions of baht. Others argued that Thailand has never invaded another country’s territory, but has instead defended its sovereignty without targeting civilians, hospitals or innocent lives.
One user wrote, ‘Thailand is not going to be a battlefield of a powerful country. However, Thailand has its own dignity to protect its sovereignty and land.’
‘Many Thais have lost family members in cross-border violence, and our soldiers have been maimed,’ another person wrote. ‘Meanwhile, Cambodia has become a hub for scams and illegal activities. Is this really the country that China wants to stand behind?’
‘Thailand must prioritise its own national interests and sovereignty. Any nation such as China that supports activities undermining our territorial integrity or regional peace should be approached with caution,’ said another commenter.
‘It’s time for Thailand to pursue a more balanced foreign policy, one that protects our independence, transparency and long-term security.’
The Chinese ambassador’s post unsurprisingly drew praise from Cambodian netizens. One user wrote: ‘On behalf of Cambodian citizens, I would like to extend my profound thanks and gratitude to the Chinese citizens and government for jointly seeking peace for Cambodia and still being a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’
Another netizen wrote, ‘Cambodia never shies away from supporting China so we hope China supports Cambodia more against the aggressive invader.’
As of 11.20am on Thursday, Mr Wang’s post had attracted about 5,100 views, 897 comments and 963 shares.