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 … it controls most of the press,” he explained.
Daily briefings by Ministry of Defence spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata were designed to accuse Thailand and respond to Thai statements in real time.
Thailand’s messaging, by contrast, appeared more chaotic, reflecting internal political divisions. “Both sides claim innocence, and their messaging is acrimonious and overblown, leaving little common ground for social media users,” Strangio said.
Political Tensions Fuel the Digital War
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was recently suspended by the Constitutional Court following a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, marking a deterioration in relations between the countries’ leading families.
“There is a major divide between Thailand’s civilian government and military commanders, who often release independent statements,” Strangio noted.
In response, Thailand appointed actress and former Miss Thailand Panadda Wongphudee as its official defence spokesperson. Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit explained, “This appointment is to counter Lieutenant General Maly … and at least we hold one advantage over Cambodia: she is more beautiful.”
Dr. Piyarat Panlee of Kasetsart University called the move “concerning,” noting that a celebrity spokesperson risks prioritizing spectacle over substance. “In moments of cross-border tension, the most effective spokesperson is one who calms the waters rather than stirs them,” she said.
Misinformation Amplifies Tensions
Some of the most viral falsehoods originated from Cambodian officials. Lieutenant General Socheata claimed that Thai fighter jets had dropped poison gas shells—a statement dismissed by the Royal Thai Armed Forces as “completely unfounded.”
Yet the misinformation spread widely, with social media posts showing an aircraft spraying a pink substance over forests. Even the wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shared the misleading image. AFP’s Fact Check unit later confirmed the photo was actually taken during US wildfires in January.
Other unverified claims included plots to assassinate Mr. Manet with drones, a video alleging Thailand was constructing a border wall, and a digitally manipulated video showing a fighter jet firing a missile. These fabrications have heightened tensions and complicated independent reporting.
Nationalism Unites Opponents
The border clash and the surge of disinformation have unexpectedly unified critics of Cambodia’s ruling party. Cambodian diaspora communities, including those in Melbourne, have staged protests in line with nationalist narratives.
“It’s remarkable. Even opposition figures are echoing the government’s talking points,” Strangio said.
Within Thailand, public displays of national flags have increased, with Thai flags even appearing in New York’s Times Square as a show of international solidarity.
Historical grievances play a key role: Thai narratives emphasize “lost territories,” while Cambodian messaging taps into existential fears of foreign conquest. “These stories are taking new forms in the digital world, but they are built on very old narratives,” Strangio concluded.
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