(Phnom Penh): When the sound of bombs and heavy weapons shatters the silence along the border, it becomes easy for emotion to persuade some observers that only the use of force can deliver “victory.”

Yet in modern warfare, victory is no longer measured by the number of shells fired. It is measured by a state’s ability to defend its sovereignty without destroying the future of its own people. In this difficult context, Cambodia has made a choice that appears calm on the surface but carries profound strategic weight: choosing a ceasefire for peace while never abandoning its right to self-defense or its territorial integrity.

The statement issued by Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, following the implementation of the “immediate ceasefire in place” from 12:00 noon on December 27, 2025, articulated a clear core principle: Cambodia seeks peace and development, but Cambodia’s peace is not born of surrender, nor purchased through territorial trade-offs. Instead, it is a peace built on international law, humanitarian responsibility, and long-term strategy—aimed at protecting human life while preserving the legitimacy of national sovereignty.

Peace Is Cambodia’s Genuine Objective

In his message dated December 29, 2025, the Prime Minister reaffirmed a fundamental truth: Cambodia is a nation that has “endured the flames of war for hundreds of years” and therefore “understands the true value of peace.” This statement carries two important meanings.

First, Cambodia does not reject war out of fear, but out of historical experience—experience that has taught the nation that war is a shortcut to human loss, stalled development, and deep psychological trauma.

Second, Cambodia treats peace and development as a national ideal that cannot be sacrificed to short-term emotion or political pressure.

For this reason, the Prime Minister’s message underscores Cambodia’s support for a regional and global order based on international law—particularly the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter. In this context, peace is not a slogan; it is a deliberate strategic choice aimed at removing war from Cambodia’s future equation in Southeast Asia.

A Ceasefire Is Not Surrender—It Is a Strategy for Peace

One of the strongest points in the Prime Minister’s message is the firm rejection of any misinterpretation that equates the ceasefire with defeat. He stated clearly that:
- The decision to implement the ceasefire does not mean Cambodia has surrendered;
- It does not mean Cambodia lacks the capacity to defend itself or has abandoned its right to self-defense;
- And it does not mean Cambodia is willing to trade territorial integrity for peace.

In political theory, this represents a clear strategic distinction: Cambodia has separated “ceasefire” from “weakness.” The ceasefire is a deliberate decision, not a concession forced under pressure. It is a tool for managing risk and safeguarding national priorities—not an act of submission to coercion or intimidation.

Humanitarian Considerations as the Core of Ceasefire Strategy

The Prime Minister’s message further emphasizes that Cambodia places the lives and well-being of its people among the highest priorities in national decision-making. This concern is not rhetorical; it is grounded in painful realities that cannot be ignored: more than half a million displaced civilians, thousands of children waiting to return to school, and 32 civilian deaths with 93 injuries.

In modern politics, power is not defined solely by military strength. Protecting civilian lives is also a form of power—humanitarian power—because it establishes the legitimacy of state decisions, strengthens domestic unity, and builds trust with the international community.

By placing civilian suffering at the center of policy, the Cambodian Prime Minister is sending a clear message to citizens both inside and outside the country: a ceasefire does not mean abandoning national defense. Rather, true national defense cannot be achieved by destroying the lives and future of one’s own people. This approach links sovereignty with humanity and transforms the ceasefire into a genuine instrument of peace, not a sign of vulnerability.

A Conditional Ceasefire Toward a Lasting Solution

The Prime Minister’s message does not stop at the declaration of a ceasefire. It outlines clear pathways toward durable resolution, including:
- Enabling displaced civilians to return to their homes safely and with dignity;
- Government coordination to restore social stability and basic public services;
- And the expectation that, after 72 hours of full ceasefire implementation, 18 Cambodian soldiers will be released and returned home.

These elements demonstrate that Cambodia views the ceasefire not as an end in itself, but as a mechanism for crisis management, transforming armed confrontation into a process of social recovery and stabilization. Silence on the battlefield must be translated into restored livelihoods, reopened schools, reunited families, and renewed social normalcy.

Ceasefire Does Not Define Borders

Another critical clarification in the Prime Minister’s statement is that a “ceasefire in place” requires both sides to hold their existing troop positions at the moment the ceasefire takes effect—but this does not constitute legal border demarcation.

This distinction is of paramount importance. Cambodia is clearly preventing any attempt to convert temporary military positions into territorial claims. By anchoring this principle in the joint statement of the General Border Committee (GBC) and reaffirming the role of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), Cambodia reiterates that legitimate borders are defined by existing treaties, conventions, and international law—not by battlefield circumstances.

Cambodia therefore retains its full legal right to resolve border issues with Thailand through established bilateral mechanisms and international legal frameworks.

The Message of Unity: Strength from Within

The Prime Minister concluded his message with a powerful call for national unity: “Division leads to death; unity leads to survival,” invoking the proverb, “A bundle of sticks cannot be broken.” This appeal urges Cambodians to turn hardship into an opportunity to strengthen national solidarity under the unifying institution of the monarchy.

This emphasis reflects awareness of an often-overlooked battlefield: the fight against disinformation and psychological pressure. National unity is a genuine source of strength—it prevents ceasefire diplomacy from becoming a perceived weakness and ensures that the right to self-defense does not stand in isolation.

A united nation is far harder to destabilize.

Conclusion

The Prime Minister’s message is a carefully constructed political statement affirming that Cambodia seeks peace because it understands peace through decades of suffering—culminating in the end of civil war under the win-win policy in late 1998, after nearly three decades of conflict marked by blood, sacrifice, and trauma.

At the same time, Cambodia declares with clarity and firmness that a ceasefire is not surrender, not a territorial trade, and not an abandonment of self-defense. It will not allow temporary troop positions to be transformed into legally recognized borders.

In modern conflict, victory is not measured by firepower alone. Long-term success belongs to nations that can navigate aggression through law, humanitarian principles, diplomacy, and unity. Cambodia is sending a clear message to the world:

We are a nation that seeks peace—but we are never weak in the face of aggression.