The Cambodian government has issued a formal diplomatic protest over Thailand's recent placement of a large Buddha statue near the shared border, calling it a direct challenge to Cambodia's territorial sovereignty.

According to a September 21 statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Thai military personnel and Buddhist monks installed the statue on September 18 at Phnom Beng in Anlong Veng district, Oddar Meanchey province—specifically in the area between border posts No. 2 and No. 3.

Phnom Penh described the act as part of an ongoing pattern aimed at establishing irreversible facts on the ground. Officials stressed that the installation violates Cambodia's internationally recognized boundaries, including those defined by the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and subsequent treaties, as well as more recent bilateral agreements.

The ministry cited multiple violations, including Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on boundary surveying and demarcation, and Point 1 of the Third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee joint statement from December 2025.

Cambodia urged Thailand to immediately halt such activities, abandon unilateral actions, and cooperate in reducing tensions to preserve regional peace and foster good-neighbourly relations.