Thailand lodged a diplomatic complaint against Cambodia over the release of a private conversation between its Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Senate President Hun Sen, accusing Cambodia of breaching diplomatic protocols and undermining bilateral trust.
But let’s be real, was it really a breach of protocol? Here are three insights to consider:
1. Uncle and Niece tone, no confidential requested:
The conversation sounded more like a chat between an “uncle and niece,” with the niece practically begging her uncle for help to keep her job as Thailand’s prime minister. Crucially, the Thai side never asked to keep the conversation confidential. In fact, the Thai PM keep requesting multiple times that Cambodia’s leaders announce they had spoken, hoping to cool tensions in Thailand’s domestic politics.
2. Peaceful intentions on the table:
During the call, the Thai PM stressed a quick, peaceful resolution so both countries could return the border situation to normal. If that’s the goal, there’s little reason to hide the conversation. Perhaps the Thai PM expected to spin the conversation for political gain, but when that fell flat, the whole team of Thai PM cried about it instead.
3. No protocol breach by Cambodia:
Cambodia neither leaked any confidential information nor violated diplomatic rules. Instead, Cambodia demonstrated respect, openness, and leadership. This is an important factor that united Cambodians in supporting their leaders' decision. By contrast, Thailand’s domestic politics appear fractured, with leaders casting blame rather than fostering unity. Ironically, the Thai Prime Minister’s side is concerned that if the other side hears the conversation, it could create more risk and further deepen political wounds at home.
If we’re talking about something unacceptable, a breach of diplomatic protocol, or a serious violation of trust, Thailand would be the champion. Thailand is the one that breached the MOU it had formally agreed to, ignored international law, and dismissed the ICJ ruling. Instead of working to solve the conflict, Thailand has chosen a “Drama Queen” tactic, trying to shift the narrative from violator to victim.