(Phnom Penh): When legally recognized borders cease to be respected, and the sound of gunfire is used in place of lawful adjudication, a clarion call arises for Cambodians to stand up and defend their national sovereignty. Since the outbreak of armed conflict on July 24, 2025, Cambodia has paid a heavy price to safeguard its sovereignty and national dignity.
Yet amid the loss and suffering, there has been a moment that powerfully affirms a fundamental truth: the nation does not forget those who remain loyal to their homeland.
In that context of sacrifice, one event emerged as a symbol of hope and national gratitude. On December 31, 2025, 18 Cambodian soldiers, who had been detained by Thai troops just hours after the ceasefire agreement was signed in Malaysia on July 28, 2025, were released and allowed to return home.
This release was not merely a military or diplomatic development. It was a clear affirmation that the sacrifice and loyalty of Cambodian soldiers are neither ignored nor forgotten by the nation.
“Loyalty to the nation—the nation never forgets.
Cambodian unity will carry the country across perilous waters toward victory.”
The Great Sacrifice of Cambodian Soldiers: The Foundation of Peace
The damage along the border is not a matter of statistics. It represents the real destruction of cultural heritage, national achievements, and infrastructure painstakingly rebuilt after nearly three decades of civil war. Yet in that darkness, one light has never gone out: the unyielding spirit of Cambodian soldiers standing on the front lines, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
This heroism is not a fleeting emotional reaction. It is the result of firm and conscious resolve—the decision to stand between bullets and the nation in defense of sovereignty and dignity, fully aware that such a choice may cost one’s life. Cambodian soldiers fight not only with weapons, but with deep faith in their nation, in unity, and in the leadership of their government.
The Release of the 18 Soldiers: A Message of National Gratitude
The release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers at the end of 2025 conveyed a powerful moral and political message: the state does not abandon those who have sacrificed. It stands as proof that the blood shed and the endurance shown behind the front lines were not in vain, but form the very foundation of national honor and peace.
As emphasized in the message of the Prime Minister on December 29, 2025: “Division means death; unity means survival.”
The flesh-and-blood sacrifices of these heroes serve as a reminder that a nation’s true strength lies not in its size or economic power, but in its spirit of unity.
Peace Is Never Free
The July 28 ceasefire, along with the Joint Peace Statement issued in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025, demonstrates Cambodia’s consistent pursuit of peace through diplomacy and international law. At the same time, these developments underscore a sobering reality: peace cannot be secured without sacrifice and steadfast resistance on the battlefield.
By confronting foreign aggression, Cambodian soldiers have shown the world that Cambodia chooses peace—but never at the expense of abandoning its right to defend its territory. Their sacrifices have been transformed into a powerful social force: strengthening national unity, healing divisions, and building trust among citizens.
For the younger generation, the lesson is clear: peace of true value is never free of cost.
Conclusion
The war to defend Cambodia’s territory since July 2025 is not a minor footnote in history. It is a deep scar etched into the nation’s collective memory—one that reminds us peace is never guaranteed, and sovereignty is never something to be tested or taken for granted.
In a time when Cambodian blood has been shed on homeland soil, the release of the 18 soldiers on December 31, 2025 sent one of the strongest messages possible to both the nation and the world: Cambodia does not abandon those who remain loyal to the nation, nor does it allow their sacrifice to fade into silence.
The blood that has been spilled is not meaningless. It is the price of standing firm, the cost of dignity and peace, and a red line drawn for future generations—declaring that a nation survives not by kneeling in submission, but by standing united as one.
History will remember, in moments of national hardship, who dared to stand at the front in sacrifice—and who chose to look away, hiding behind the sweat and blood shed for peace.
Cambodia’s future will be built on this foundation: loyalty, sacrifice, and national unity. As long as Cambodians stand together, the nation will not sink into peril.
Loyalty to the nation—the nation never forgets. Cambodian unity is the great vessel that will carry Cambodia through all dangers, toward victory and honor.
