BANGKOK, June 19 – Thailand delivered a formal diplomatic protest to Cambodia today following the unauthorized release of a private conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, escalating tensions between the neighboring nations.

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Cambodian Ambassador Hun Saroeun was summoned to receive the protest note from Piyapak Sricharoen, Director-General of Thailand’s East Asian Affairs Department. The strongly worded document condemned the leak as “a serious violation of international diplomatic norms” that undermines bilateral relations.

“The recording’s dissemination contradicts internationally accepted practices and damages ongoing good-faith efforts to resolve issues between our countries,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura at a press briefing. He emphasized that heads of government deserve universal respect, calling Cambodia’s actions “unacceptable” and accusing Phnom Penh of using social media manipulation to sow division.

BREAKING: Piyapak Sricharoen, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, summoned Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand Hun Saroeun, to accept a formal protest letter regarding Cambodian former PM and Senate President Hun Sen exposing the private phone conversation with… pic.twitter.com/4oeZhmdX5U

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) June 19, 2025

The protest note specifically highlighted that PM Paetongtarn’s original call with Hun Sen had been conducted “with full diplomatic propriety” to address border tensions. Nikorndej stressed Thailand wishes to prevent the controversy from affecting grassroots relations between Cambodian and Thai citizens.

The diplomatic row compounds existing friction over contested border areas and Cambodia’s recent ban on Thai agricultural imports. Analysts note the leaked audio – where Paetongtarn appeared deferential to Hun Sen – has become a political liability domestically, with opposition senators now demanding her resignation.

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The protest follows Cambodia’s June 17 petition to the International Court of Justice regarding disputed border zones – a move Thailand rejects in favor of bilateral talks.

-Thailand News (TN)