Cambodia Says Security at Preah Vihear Is Protective, Not Military

Cambodia Says Security at Preah Vihear Is Protective, Not Military

PHNOM PENH, Feb 27, 2026 — Cambodia on Friday categorically rejected allegations attributed to Thailand’s top diplomat that the Temple of Preah Vihear has been used as a military station, calling the claim unfounded and contrary to established legal realities.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the UNESCO-listed temple is a sacred cultural and religious monument and “has never been designated, developed, or used for military purposes.”

Cambodia, a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the site exclusively for peaceful, cultural and religious functions.

The ministry said the presence of Cambodian security personnel at the site is strictly protective in nature and aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage and national sovereignty. Administration of the temple remains under civilian heritage authorities, it added.

Attempts to portray the temple as a military installation undermine international legal authority and risk affecting regional peace, the statement said.

Cambodia reiterated its commitment to international law, peaceful dispute resolution, and cooperation within ASEAN and the broader international community, stressing that Preah Vihear “is, and will remain, a monument of peace, culture and shared human heritage.”