(Phnom Penh): War is never a good option, whether for small nations or large ones. Yet history repeatedly proves that when sovereignty is threatened, refusing to stand and defend the nation is tantamount to surrendering its future. Since the outbreak of armed conflict on July 24, 2025, Cambodia has paid a heavy price—blood, lives of soldiers, and the peace of its people—solely to defend its territory, the very foundation of Khmer national identity.

The destruction along the border is not merely a tragic set of statistics. It represents the real devastation of ancestral cultural heritage, national achievements, and critical infrastructure that Cambodia had only recently rebuilt after nearly three decades of civil war. Yet even amid this profound darkness, one light has remained unextinguished: the unyielding spirit of Cambodian soldiers standing on the front lines, resolute in their willingness to sacrifice for the nation. Their voluntary shedding of blood in defense of sovereignty has become a powerful force of national unity.

The Sacrifice of Cambodian Soldiers: The Foundation of Peace

The heroism of Cambodian soldiers is neither accidental nor the product of fleeting emotion. It is the result of a firm decision made in the heart—a conscious choice to sacrifice in defense of national territory, sovereignty, and dignity, fully aware of the grave risks and the possibility of death. Cambodian soldiers did not fight solely with weapons on the battlefield; they fought with unwavering faith—faith in the nation, faith in national unity, and faith in the leadership of the current Royal Government in fulfilling its mission to defend the country.

This is the core reason why a war—despite its immense pain, loss, and sorrow—has not remained merely a scar on history, but has instead become a national lesson of enduring value about the power of unity. The conflict has demonstrated clearly that a nation’s strength is not determined by the size of its territory or the scale of its economy, but by the collective resolve and shared commitment of its people.

As articulated in the profound message of Hun Manet in his address on December 29:

“The hardships and the flesh-and-blood sacrifices of our heroes on the battlefield are a constant reminder that ‘division leads to death, while strong unity ensures survival.’ As the old saying goes, ‘A bundle of sticks cannot be broken.’ We must therefore turn today’s hardships into an opportunity for all Cambodians to join hands in strengthening and rebuilding our nation—stronger, better, and more resilient—under the benevolent and protective shade of our revered King.”

Gratitude as Political Ethics

The December 29, 2025 message of Prime Minister Hun Manet conveyed a spirit of national gratitude that transcended ordinary political statements. In his address, he expressed “the deepest gratitude for the priceless sacrifices of our heroic soldiers and police officers who have courageously fulfilled the noble duty of defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding that “these contributions are of immeasurable value and will be recorded in history for all Cambodian people and generations to come.”

This message carries profound political and moral significance. It clearly affirms that the state does not forget the sacrifices of those who stood with their own bodies shielding the nation and its people. The phrase “will be recorded in history” is not rhetorical consolation—it is a public commitment that the blood shed for the nation was not spilled in vain. In politics, gratitude is not merely an emotion; it is an ethical obligation and a duty of the state—to preserve national memory and to care for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The sacrifice of Cambodian soldiers also generates a form of “soft power” on the international stage. A nation whose sons and daughters are willing to lay down their lives to defend sovereignty and protect civilians—even when facing a stronger adversary—earns respect, attention, and moral support from the international community. This forms the foundation of sustainable diplomacy, grounded not in coercion, but in integrity, principle, and the courage to sacrifice for peace.

Within Cambodian society, this supreme sacrifice can be transformed into powerful social energy—an energy that fosters national unity, heals divisions, and strengthens mutual trust. Above all, it serves as a profound lesson for the younger generation: peace of true value is not accidental, nor granted out of mercy by adversaries, but preserved through sacrifice and unwavering commitment to defend the homeland.

Peace Is Never Achieved Without Sacrifice

The ceasefire agreement of July 28, the Joint Peace Statement of October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, and the three-day temporary ceasefire reached in late December under the careful diplomatic facilitation of the People’s Republic of China clearly demonstrate Cambodia’s persistent pursuit of peace through diplomacy and respect for international law.

At the same time, these developments also constitute undeniable evidence that the peace now within reach would not have been possible without the courage to sacrifice—and without the flesh-and-blood losses of Cambodian soldiers who stood against foreign aggression to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The deepest meaning of this supreme sacrifice lies in the future of the nation. Future generations will inevitably ask: Why were Cambodian soldiers willing to sacrifice their lives to defend the nation in this era? How will history remember those sacrifices?

The answer will be found in the names and lives of those heroes, remembered not for one generation, but for many to come. One day, when Cambodian youth stand before memorials honoring these heroes, they will understand clearly that peace does not come by chance, nor through the benevolence of adversaries. It is the result of bloodshed, sacrifice, and supreme devotion—etched in history and forever engraved in the hearts of the Khmer people.

Conclusion

The war to defend Cambodian sovereignty and national survival, which began in late July 2025, stands as a painful reminder that a small nation—emerging from decades of civil war and still rebuilding—was once again forced to endure foreign aggression, compelling further sacrifices of its soldiers to protect its land.

This Fresh Exclusive editorial is not written merely to recall suffering, but to reaffirm a clear position before public opinion: Cambodia may consistently choose peace as a principled approach, but it will never relinquish its legitimate right to defend its territory. The heroism of Cambodian soldiers and the gratitude expressed by the nation’s leadership are not only the pillars safeguarding peace today, but powerful driving forces that enable the nation to stand firm—with pride, dignity, and honor—on the international stage.

The blood that has been shed was not shed in vain. It has become the foundation of tomorrow, and a historical lesson that future generations of Cambodians will remember—and will continue to uphold in defending their nation and beloved homeland.