Empire News Asia

  “News about Cambodia has now become a hot topic that is increasingly drawing Thailand into its own trap, stepping on its own heels, and becoming more aware of who is who?” 1: People who Cambodia does not know? Michael B Alfaro is a person who is not well known to Cambodians, but has made the international community aware of “Cambodia’s honesty” and “tearing Thailand’s tricks in plastic bags” through his live broadcast, which has received many applause and views. While Cambodia does not know this man! He was aggressively attacked by the Thai media, accusing him of being a “paid journalist” who distorted information and being a “person who does not know where”? At the same time! Some Cambodians also said that “he is a legal lobbyist who is biased by money from a specific institution.” In particular! What everyone could not have imagined! “This man’s broadcast was broadcast by the White House correspondent Gary Franchi, with the expectation that “the broadcast reached the ears of th...

  What started as a deadly confrontation along the contested Thailand-Cambodia border has now shifted from the physical frontlines to the digital sphere, with social media becoming a battleground of competing narratives. A ceasefire in July paused five days of intense fighting that left at least 43 dead and displaced more than 300,000 people. However, the conflict has continued online, with nationalist rhetoric, recycled footage, and viral misinformation dominating discussions. Pageantry Meets Press Briefings Sebastian Strangio, South-East Asia editor at The Diplomat , observed a shift in Cambodia’s communication strategy following the border clash. “Previously, most coverage was focused on scaremongering about territorial losses,” he said. “Now Cambodia is portraying itself as the victim.” Having covered the 2008 border conflict, Strangio noted that Phnom Penh enjoys an advantage in controlling the narrative. “The Cambodian side maintains a high degree of message discipline …...

On August 16, 2025, a significant development unfolded along the Cambodian–Thai border, where tensions have been rising due to the actions of Siamese forces. According to reports, Siamese troops had crossed into Cambodian territory and set up barriers that included stacked tires, barbed wire, and even hidden surveillance cameras. These measures were allegedly designed to intimidate and restrict the movement of innocent Cambodian villagers living in the affected areas. The situation drew international attention when Mr. Michael B. Alfaro, a U.S. representative, arrived at the disputed site to observe and document the conditions firsthand. His presence caused outrage among Siamese officials and citizens, who accused him of being nothing more than a figure hired by Cambodia to stage the incident. They rejected claims of his legitimacy, insisting that he was not acting as an official agent of the White House. However, the narrative shifted dramatically later that same day. Gary Franchi, ...

  By: Ly Udom – A Khmer Youth with New Eyes Introduction For more than seven centuries , Cambodia and Thailand (historically Siam) have shared a complicated and often bloody history — one of invasions, betrayals, shifting borders, and fragile truces. The question remains: After 700 years of conflict, how deep are the scars? And can the two nations ever truly reconcile? A Timeline of Khmer–Siam Relations 13th–15th Century: The Fall of Angkor 1238: The Sukhothai Kingdom rises, marking Siam’s emergence and its push into Khmer lands. 1351–1357: Ayutthaya attacks and occupies Angkor for the first time, taking wealth and tens of thousands of skilled Khmer. 1431: The catastrophic fall of Angkor to Ayutthaya’s King Borommarachathirat II, forcing Cambodia into its “dark age.” 16th–18th Century: Endless Wars and Proxy Battles 1500s–1700s: Constant border wars, with Vietnam often involved. 1767–1773: Siam–Vietnam proxy wars fought on Cambodian soil, with Sia...