Compilation of Fake News Related to the Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash

03 August 2568
Adisorn Suksomat

During the border clash between Thailand and Cambodia in late July 2025, a series of false information was spread from the Cambodian side in an effort to discredit Thailand. The following are examples of such claims from the Cambodian side and foreign countries that have been verified as false:

Claim 1: A Thai Air Force F-16 was shot down over Cambodian territory

Summary: Footage from a foreign conflict

The video in question was confirmed to depict combat between Russia and Ukraine in June 2025.

Claim 2: A video of missile launches from Cambodia into Thailand

Summary: Footage from a foreign conflict

This video was confirmed to be from a missile launch in Donbas, Ukraine, earlier in 2025.

Claim 3: Lieutenant General Mali Socheata, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, claimed there is photographic evidence of Thai aircraft releasing toxic gas on Cambodian civilians

Summary: Footage from an unrelated event abroad

Investigation confirmed the image was actually of an aircraft releasing fire retardant to combat wildfires in Los Angeles in January 2025.

Claim 4: An F-16 pilot accused of killing Cambodian civilians

Summary: Image of a Thai actor from a television drama

Verification showed that the image was taken from a Thai TV drama, featuring Thasit Sinkonwiwat (Stefan Salomone), a former actor turned YouTuber.

Spreading Anti-Thai Sentiment in Cambodian School Textbooks

In late July 2025, a study by Chanchai Khongphiantham from the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Ubon Ratchathani University was shared online in Thailand. The research, titled “Representations of ‘Thailand’ in Cambodian Secondary School History Textbooks”, confirmed that Cambodian education materials contain content that fosters hatred toward Thais. The information was often biased and deviated significantly from historical accuracy.

The study found that the textbooks claim the following:

Thais were originally forest-dwellers who migrated from southern China.

Thais are thieves who stole Khmer land and culture.

Thailand is an enemy of the Cambodian nation.

Thailand is ungrateful to Cambodia.

Thailand was once defeated by Burma.

Thailand has good kings.

Thai politics is chaotic.

The researcher concluded that the main weaknesses of the textbooks are the inaccuracy of historical information and the emotionally charged language used in presentation. This approach may encourage nationalism by portraying Thailand as a national enemy.

#TruthFromThailand

Reference information :

https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2025/07/fact-check-video-thailand-cambodia-rm-70-rocket-launcher.html
https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2025/07/fact-check-video-does-not-show-clashes-between-thailand-and-cambodia-in-july-2025.html
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1040313364984741&set=pb.100070182621283.-2207520000&type=3
กองทัพทันกระแส
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1443305743380305&set=pb.100031026804975.-2207520000
สเตฟาน Stephan
https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/liberalarts/article/view/281000
ภาพแทน “ไทย” ในแบบเรียนวิชาประวัติศาสตร์ ระดับชั้นมัธยมศึกษาของกัมพูชา