Cambodia Condemns WSJ’s “Scambodia” Label as Unprofessional and Biased

Tep Asnarith, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, April 21, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has criticised The Wall Street Journal for using the term “Scambodia” in an article on cybercrime, calling the phrase discriminatory, unprofessional and damaging to the country’s reputation.

Ministry spokesman Tep Asnarith said linking the name of a sovereign nation to global criminal activity amounted to ridicule and undermined the dignity of the Cambodian people.

He said the ministry had prepared a formal letter to the editors and management of The Wall Street Journal requesting a review and correction of the article.

“The role of journalism is to inform, present facts and help solve problems — not to damage the honour of any nation,” he said.

Officials in Phnom Penh said the government has stepped up enforcement efforts in recent months.

According to the ministry, Cambodian authorities launched crackdowns on more than 250 online scam cases between July 2025 and mid-April 2026, including raids on 91 casino-linked locations.

The government said 112 criminal cases involving around 1,089 suspects had been sent to court, with suspects including Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, South Korean, Singaporean and Cambodian nationals.

Authorities also said 13,039 foreign nationals connected to online scam activity had been deported between January 2025 and April 19, 2026.

Cambodia has in recent years intensified cooperation with neighbouring countries and international partners to combat online fraud networks, human trafficking and cross-border cybercrime.

The dispute reflects growing sensitivity in Southeast Asia over how scam hub allegations are framed, as governments seek to balance enforcement efforts with concerns over national image and foreign investment confidence.