Foreign Minister Sihasak revealed that a protest letter has been sent to Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry after Cambodian gunfire landed on Thai territory, injuring a soldier. Cambodia claims it was an accident. He stressed that an apology and explanation must be provided and emphasized that any response should be proportionate.
At 10:55 a.m. on 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Minister Sihasak Puangketkaew spoke about diplomatic negotiations after Cambodian gunfire fell on Thai soil, injuring one Thai soldier. He said the incident falls within an established framework, as the ceasefire agreement is part of the General Border Committee (GBC) meetings signed by the defense ministers of both countries. Procedures require Cambodia to clarify such incidents, especially as a Thai soldier was wounded. The Foreign Ministry has formally protested to Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry, demanding clarification and accountability, including an apology. He added that the situation will be monitored going forward.
When asked about the specific points of the protest letter to Cambodia, Minister Sihasak said it concerned the gunfire entering Thai territory and injuring a Thai soldier. He reiterated that the primary negotiation mechanism is the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee (JBC), which has protocols for immediate communication in such events. He stressed that Cambodia must promptly clarify the incident as it is a serious matter.
Regarding Cambodia’s claim that the incident was accidental, Minister Sihasak said Cambodia stated it was unintentional, but the explanation must be carefully reviewed. Even if unintentional, the fact remains that a Thai soldier was injured, so such incidents must not recur. He recalled that ceasefire periods are fragile and require caution. He emphasized that despite the claim of no intent, the circumstances must be understood and prevented from happening again, and Cambodia must take responsibility by issuing an apology.
Minister Sihasak also said that military actions must follow the GBC framework, and operations in the area are ongoing accordingly. However, if these measures are insufficient, negotiations between the two countries’ defense ministers will be necessary.
When asked if the military could respond if such an incident occurs again, Minister Sihasak said responses can take various forms and must be proportionate to the incident. If Cambodia can prove it was unintentional and will prevent recurrence, then the response would be a formal protest. But if the act was deliberate, the situation would differ and must be evaluated according to proportionality.