The Cambodian parliament passed major legislation extending the duration of military service and increasing penalties for draft evasion. Hun Manet stated that it is necessary to build forces to protect the nation.
On 12 May 2026, members of Cambodia’s National Assembly approved a new conscription law that extends military service time and increases penalties for those refusing to serve, following violent clashes along the border with Thailand last year.
The Cambodian parliament stated that all 114 National Assembly members, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted in favor of the bill during the parliamentary session.
Relations between Cambodia and Thailand have become tense since fighting erupted in July and December 2025, resulting in dozens of deaths and displacing over one million people.
Prior to the vote on Tuesday, Hun Manet said conscription would begin this year because “it is necessary to build forces to protect the nation.”
He later told parliamentarians that Cambodia needs this new law because the country’s sovereignty “is under threat” and “it is crucial to increase the number of young, energetic forces.”
Looking back, in 2006 the parliament approved a conscription law requiring Cambodians aged 18 to 30 to serve 18 months in the military; however, this law has never been implemented.
The new conscription law will extend military service from 18 months to two years, lower the draft age range from 18–30 to 18–25, increase penalties for draft evasion during peacetime from one year to two years in prison, and raise wartime penalties from three years to five years.
Some Cambodian youths have expressed support for the law. A high school student told AFP, “I am ready to serve the nation in the military, even if my mother objects, because I am dissatisfied with Thailand.”
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Source:cna