BANGKOK, Thailand – Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former prime minister and current president of the Senate — called for an end to Cambodia’s reliance on strategic imports from Thailand, including electricity, internet services, fuel, and gas, as well as a halt to broadcasting Thai television dramas and programs in Cambodia.
Speaking to a group of students and teachers at the Chea Sim Komchaymear Education and Training Center in Prey Veng province, Hun Sen warned that Thailand’s influence over essential resources poses a national security threat.
“Cambodia must be cautious and avoid purchasing any strategic products from Thailand,” he declared. “First is electricity. We must not buy Thai electricity under any circumstances. Second is internet services. Third is fuel and gas — because when they cut these off, we come to an end,” he stressed.
Hun Sen argued that Thailand has a history of threatening Cambodia during times of border conflict and cited this as a reason why Cambodia funded National Road No. 68 on its own, without Thai financial assistance, after Bangkok allegedly threatened to withdraw funding support.
He also took aim at Thailand’s soft power, urging Cambodian broadcasters to cease airing Thai television dramas altogether. “When the Thai programs are removed, our people should start supporting our own local content creators,” he said.
Hun Sen boasted that Cambodia had once banned all Thai dramas in 2003, only allowing them back around 2016–2017, following repeated appeals from Thailand.
