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Cambodia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Cambodia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Phnom Penh

Head of State

King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government

Prime Minister Hun Manet

Chinese and Laotian military personnel attend the opening of a joint humanitarian medical exercise in Vientiane earlier this month. Photo: Xinhua

China’s military

China takes strategic military step overseas with new Laos air force centre

Beijing says jointly operated facilities at Ban Keun Airport will support pilot training and deepen cooperation between the two militaries.

30 Sep 2026 - 3:37PM

Vietnam

Vietnam charges 3 men with terrorism as abduction claim emerges

29 Sep 2026 - 8:37PM

Thailand

Cambodia hosts anti-scam summit as scepticism lingers

23 Sep 2026 - 12:22PMvideocam

Thailand

Cambodia, Thailand take US$300 billion seabed dispute to UN

A rarely invoked UN legal process is trying to untangle the two countries’ row over 27,000 sq km of oil- and gas-rich waters.

15 Sep 2026 - 3:56PM

Wellhead platforms, used for the offshore extraction of oil and gas, undergo refurbishment at a port in Chonburi province, Thailand, last week. Photo: Reuters

War and conflict

My Take | US-Israeli failure to bomb Iran into submission was preordained

From Nazi Germany to Vietnam, history is rich with examples of countries that simply refuse to surrender to bombing.

13 Sep 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Science

US-China decoupling could benefit other countries, Chinese study finds

The study suggests a complete severing of trade ties would hurt both superpowers while bringing temporary gains elsewhere.

12 Sep 2026 - 8:00PM

Singapore

As Singapore weighs joining China-led AI body, does it risk US retaliation?

Joining the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation gives Singapore influence, but may affect its Pax Silica role, analysts say.

11 Sep 2026 - 9:53PM

People walk along the promenade next to Marina Bay in Singapore on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Opinion | The Global South cannot afford to let its maritime border disputes fester

Cambodia’s compulsory conciliation with Thailand under UN sea law shows how international law can deliver peaceful outcomes before tensions boil over.

11 Sep 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

US-China relations

US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams

Washington also seizes Telegram channels and US$52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the platform’s alleged illicit operations.

10 Sep 2026 - 10:30AMvideocam

Thailand

12 South Koreans arrested in Thailand scam centre crackdown

Police say the alleged scammers entered Thailand from a neighbouring country and rented a luxury house south of Bangkok.

8 Sep 2026 - 8:46PMvideocam

A Royal Thai Army soldier walks beyond barbed wire outside hospital buildings of an abandoned scam centre in O’Smach town on the Thai-Cambodian border, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Jockey Club to offer computer training to more children in Cambodia

Club’s charities trust signs MOU with Cambodian authorities to expand computational training programme to cover early childhood learning.

8 Sep 2026 - 9:19PM

Cambodian students use a computer room at a school in 2018. The latest MOU builds on an agreement signed last year to roll out the CoolThink@JC programme in the country’s primary schools. Photo: AFP

SCMP Highlights

Cambodia scam gangs; viral Jennie clip tests South Korea law: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan warships attracting US interest to viral clip of Blackpink’s Jennie, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

8 Sep 2026 - 4:59PM

Asia travel

A run through history in Cambodia’s Angkor Empire Marathon

This year’s Angkor Empire Marathon saw participants race through misty forests and villages, and past ancient temples and rice fields, as dawn broke over Cambodia’s spectacular Angkor Archaeological Park.

5 Sep 2026 - 4:36PM

Myanmar

Southeast Asia’s scam gangs regroup after Cambodia’s crackdown

Dislodged from Cambodian compounds, cyberscam cartels have been setting up shop in Laos, Myanmar and even Malaysia.

2 Sep 2026 - 2:19PMvideocam

Thai soldiers inspect a workstation at a suspected scam compound near the Chong Chom-O’Smach border crossing with Cambodia in December. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

US Congress seeks to identify foreign countries behind scam calls

Inquiry comes as US government reports tying much of the financial damage from scams to Chinese criminal networks based in Southeast Asia.

2 Sep 2026 - 6:35AMvideocam

US government reports have connected much of the financial damage from scam calls to Chinese criminal networks based in Southeast Asia. Photo: Shutterstock

Singapore

Small state, big agenda: Singapore prepares to steer Asean through crisis

The city state takes the helm on Asean’s 60th anniversary amid civil war, tariff threats and rising global tensions.

31 Aug 2026 - 8:00AM

Editor's Letter

This week in PostMag: legacies from Hong Kong to Hollywood and beyond

How legacies are built, from HKSTP’s tech innovation to culinary fusions and Nancy Kwan’s Hollywood impact.

30 Aug 2026 - 6:00AM

Japan

Japan to expand security aid to 12 Indo-Pacific nations

Tokyo has more than doubled its security assistance programme to US$114 million in a strategic push.

28 Aug 2026 - 3:07PM

Japanese coast guard members in the waters off southern Japan in November 2023. Japan has primarily supplied non-lethal equipment, including patrol boats and radar systems, under its OSA framework. Photo: Kyodo News/AP

Asean

Opinion | Why Southeast Asia isn’t buying the US’ offer of ‘flexible realism’

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby talked up US partnerships with Asean nations during his trip to the region, but Washington’s actions contradict its ‘Asia first’ rhetoric.

28 Aug 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

US-China relations

What China can do to secure trade routes in its coming high-seas struggle with US

Di Dongsheng argues it could take three decades for China to dominate access to ports, straits, canals and shipping lanes around the world.

27 Aug 2026 - 3:58PMvideocam

United States

Why Cambodia is reviving US military drills despite close China ties

Restarting Angkor Sentinel drills lets Phnom Penh signal strategic autonomy without abandoning Beijing, analysts say.

23 Aug 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

US Under Secretary of Defence Elbridge Colby (left) shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet before a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 14. Photo: AKP / AP

US-China relations

Exclusive | Waico vs Pax Silica: Southeast Asia caught between China and US in AI race

Beijing reportedly offers exclusive perks to attract Global South partners while describing the American-led body as exclusionary.

22 Aug 2026 - 12:08AMvideocam

Protesters march in Manila on August 13 against Pax Silica, a US-led initiative established in December with the aim of reducing “coercive dependencies”. Photo: AFP

Scams and swindles

Asia faces scam ‘epidemic’ threat as gangs exploit agentic AI, analyst warns

The technology could allow scam syndicates to carry out multiple tasks to cheat victims at the same time without needing human intervention.

21 Aug 2026 - 3:12PMvideocam

US-China trade war

Editorial | ‘Transshipment scam’ is not a global conspiracy but a warning to the US

The White House’s accusation that over 40 nations are involved in a shadow network that harms the US betrays a misunderstanding of how trade works.

20 Aug 2026 - 7:15AM

Palestinian Territories

Declining aid threatens landmine clearing efforts in Southeast Asia

Aid cuts and shifting geopolitical priorities leave Cambodian and regional demining groups struggling to remove deadly wartime relics.

19 Aug 2026 - 12:35PM

A deminer uses a metal detector to clear a landmine field in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in July. Photo: AP

SCMP Highlights

How monarchies stay relevant; Pakistan’s new defence pact: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asia’s monarchies to a shoving incident in Singapore, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

18 Aug 2026 - 2:31PM

World’s longest-reigning living monarch, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, returns a salute during his 80th birthday celebrations at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on July 15. Photo: Reuters

US-Asean relations

US transshipment ‘scam’ claims put Asean exporters in a bind

Analysts say a report accusing nine Southeast Asian nations of helping China skirt tariffs conflates cheating with legitimate trade.

18 Aug 2026 - 5:33PMvideocam

Thailand

How Cambodian worker exodus exposes Thailand’s fragile labour model

An estimated 780,000 Cambodian workers have left Thailand since last year’s border conflicts, affecting a wide range of industries.

16 Aug 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

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Cambodia

China takes strategic military step overseas with new Laos air force centre

Beijing says jointly operated facilities at Ban Keun Airport will support pilot training and deepen cooperation between the two militaries.

Vietnam charges 3 men with terrorism as abduction claim emerges

Cambodia hosts anti-scam summit as scepticism lingers

Cambodia, Thailand take US$300 billion seabed dispute to UN

A rarely invoked UN legal process is trying to untangle the two countries’ row over 27,000 sq km of oil- and gas-rich waters.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | US-Israeli failure to bomb Iran into submission was preordained

From Nazi Germany to Vietnam, history is rich with examples of countries that simply refuse to surrender to bombing.

US-China decoupling could benefit other countries, Chinese study finds

The study suggests a complete severing of trade ties would hurt both superpowers while bringing temporary gains elsewhere.

As Singapore weighs joining China-led AI body, does it risk US retaliation?

Joining the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation gives Singapore influence, but may affect its Pax Silica role, analysts say.

Opinion | The Global South cannot afford to let its maritime border disputes fester

Cambodia’s compulsory conciliation with Thailand under UN sea law shows how international law can deliver peaceful outcomes before tensions boil over.

US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams

Washington also seizes Telegram channels and US$52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the platform’s alleged illicit operations.

12 South Koreans arrested in Thailand scam centre crackdown

Police say the alleged scammers entered Thailand from a neighbouring country and rented a luxury house south of Bangkok.

Hong Kong Jockey Club to offer computer training to more children in Cambodia

Club’s charities trust signs MOU with Cambodian authorities to expand computational training programme to cover early childhood learning.

Cambodia scam gangs; viral Jennie clip tests South Korea law: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan warships attracting US interest to viral clip of Blackpink’s Jennie, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A run through history in Cambodia’s Angkor Empire Marathon

This year’s Angkor Empire Marathon saw participants race through misty forests and villages, and past ancient temples and rice fields, as dawn broke over Cambodia’s spectacular Angkor Archaeological Park.

Southeast Asia’s scam gangs regroup after Cambodia’s crackdown

Dislodged from Cambodian compounds, cyberscam cartels have been setting up shop in Laos, Myanmar and even Malaysia.

US Congress seeks to identify foreign countries behind scam calls

Inquiry comes as US government reports tying much of the financial damage from scams to Chinese criminal networks based in Southeast Asia.

Small state, big agenda: Singapore prepares to steer Asean through crisis

The city state takes the helm on Asean’s 60th anniversary amid civil war, tariff threats and rising global tensions.

This week in PostMag: legacies from Hong Kong to Hollywood and beyond

How legacies are built, from HKSTP’s tech innovation to culinary fusions and Nancy Kwan’s Hollywood impact.

Japan to expand security aid to 12 Indo-Pacific nations

Tokyo has more than doubled its security assistance programme to US$114 million in a strategic push.

Opinion | Why Southeast Asia isn’t buying the US’ offer of ‘flexible realism’

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby talked up US partnerships with Asean nations during his trip to the region, but Washington’s actions contradict its ‘Asia first’ rhetoric.

What China can do to secure trade routes in its coming high-seas struggle with US

Di Dongsheng argues it could take three decades for China to dominate access to ports, straits, canals and shipping lanes around the world.

Why Cambodia is reviving US military drills despite close China ties

Restarting Angkor Sentinel drills lets Phnom Penh signal strategic autonomy without abandoning Beijing, analysts say.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Waico vs Pax Silica: Southeast Asia caught between China and US in AI race

Beijing reportedly offers exclusive perks to attract Global South partners while describing the American-led body as exclusionary.

Asia faces scam ‘epidemic’ threat as gangs exploit agentic AI, analyst warns

The technology could allow scam syndicates to carry out multiple tasks to cheat victims at the same time without needing human intervention.

Editorial | ‘Transshipment scam’ is not a global conspiracy but a warning to the US

The White House’s accusation that over 40 nations are involved in a shadow network that harms the US betrays a misunderstanding of how trade works.

Declining aid threatens landmine clearing efforts in Southeast Asia

Aid cuts and shifting geopolitical priorities leave Cambodian and regional demining groups struggling to remove deadly wartime relics.

How monarchies stay relevant; Pakistan’s new defence pact: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asia’s monarchies to a shoving incident in Singapore, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

US transshipment ‘scam’ claims put Asean exporters in a bind

Analysts say a report accusing nine Southeast Asian nations of helping China skirt tariffs conflates cheating with legitimate trade.

How Cambodian worker exodus exposes Thailand’s fragile labour model

An estimated 780,000 Cambodian workers have left Thailand since last year’s border conflicts, affecting a wide range of industries.

My Take | US-Israeli failure to bomb Iran into submission was preordained

Exclusive | Waico vs Pax Silica: Southeast Asia caught between China and US in AI race