"Starting from midnight on 23/6, all fuel and gas imports from Thailand have been completely halted," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced on official social media platforms.
He argued that Cambodia has sufficient capacity to source fuel from other countries to meet domestic demand, even if the halt is prolonged. "Whether for a month or indefinitely, Cambodian fuel companies can import from elsewhere," he said.
Phnom Penh made the decision following a series of diplomatic and economic rifts with Bangkok. Earlier last week, the Thai military closed Choub Korki, a key border crossing with Cambodia. Phnom Penh announced on 22/6 the "permanent closure" of this crossing, along with the Choam crossing.
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Hun Manet during a visit to Japan in 2/2022. Photo: Reuters |
Hun Manet during a visit to Japan in 2/2022. Photo: Reuters
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged citizens on 22/6 to avoid non-essential travel to Thailand and warned Thai nationals in Cambodia to stay away from protest areas.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since a shooting incident in a disputed border area killed a Cambodian soldier in late May. Both sides claimed to have acted in self-defense.
The dispute intensified after a leaked recording of a phone call between the President of the Cambodian Senate and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a protest note to Cambodia, calling the leak a "violation of universal principles in international relations".
According to the World Bank, Thailand was Cambodia's third-largest trading partner in 2022, with imports reaching 3.8 billion USD, of which fuel accounted for 27%. In 2023, this figure reached 738.11 million USD for fossil fuels, oil, and oil products.
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Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Photo: AFP |
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Photo: AFP
On 20/6, members of Thailand's opposition Palang Pracharath party proposed halting oil exports to Cambodia, arguing that Phnom Penh might make concessions within a month if Bangkok did so.
Hun Sen criticized the proposal, declaring it "a dangerous game that could lead to self-destruction". "Cambodia will not succumb just because it does not import Thai fuel," he said, warning that the action could backfire and cause significant losses for Bangkok itself.
Thai media reported last week that many Cambodians traveled by motorcycle to the border to purchase readily available, cheaper fuel. Fuel prices in Cambodia are rising, reaching 1.52 USD per liter of gasoline and 1.22 USD per liter of diesel. Prices in Thailand are 1.26 USD and 0.97 USD, respectively.
Thailand's state-owned energy company operates 186 gas stations in Cambodia.
Duc Trung (Khmer Times, Bangkok Post, Nation Thailand)
