BANGKOK, Thailand – The Royal Thai Army has dismissed claims made by Cambodia’s National Authority for Chemical, Nuclear, Biological, and Radiological Weapons (NACW) that Thailand used chemical weapons during recent military clashes along the border. The Cambodian authority, through General Phorn Nara, has requested international assistance to manage what it described as contamination from more than 70 hazardous chemicals allegedly resulting from Thai military activity, including the use of white phosphorus (WP) munitions.
Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree stated that the allegations were unsupported by evidence and misrepresented the nature of Thai military operations. He clarified that Thailand has never used chemical weapons, and that white phosphorus shells, cited in the Cambodian report, are not classified as such under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). WP is commonly used by militaries around the world for smoke, illumination, and marking purposes.
The Thai Army affirmed that any use of WP munitions has been consistent with international law and limited strictly to military targets. It made clear that these munitions are subject to strict internal regulations and have not been used in a manner that endangers civilian populations.
Thai officials described the Cambodian statement as a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community and secure foreign aid, arguing that the narrative falsely characterizes standard military practices to provoke public misunderstanding.
The Royal Thai Army also maintained that no evidence supports the accusation of chemical weapon use during the engagements referenced by Cambodian authorities. (NNT)
