Hun Sen's Leaked Call Sparks Diplomatic Crisis for Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Bangkok, June 20, 2025 – A diplomatic storm has engulfed Thailand following the leak of a private phone conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The audio, which surfaced earlier this week, captures Paetongtarn making critical remarks about a senior Thai military commander, describing him as an obstacle in resolving a long-standing border dispute with Cambodia. Analysts are calling Hun Sen’s decision to release the recording a calculated "masterstroke," aimed at putting Thailand on the defensive and exposing internal political rifts.
The controversy stems from an ongoing border tension that escalated last month when a clash between Thai and Cambodian troops resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. The disputed area, part of the Emerald Triangle where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge, has been a flashpoint for decades, with historical roots tracing back to the French colonial era’s ambiguous border demarcations. Hun Sen, a veteran leader who retains significant influence despite stepping back from the premiership in favor of his son Hun Manet, appears to have leveraged the leaked call to assert Cambodia’s position, especially as Phnom Penh prepares to escalate the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
For Paetongtarn, the daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, both ousted by military coups, the scandal threatens to destabilize her government less than a year into her tenure. Her inexperience in high-stakes politics, having entered the political arena only in 2021, has come under scrutiny as the crisis unfolds. The leaked comments have fueled public anger, with anti-government protests erupting outside Government House, echoing the royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement of the past. A key coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai party, has already withdrawn support, leaving her administration with a precarious majority.
In a bid to mitigate the fallout, Paetongtarn has issued a public apology, framing her remarks as a negotiation tactic to stabilize relations with Cambodia. She has also visited the Thai-Cambodian border to mend ties with military leaders and pledged unity in defending national sovereignty. However, these efforts have done little to quell the crisis, with opposition parties demanding her resignation and legal petitions accusing her of ethical misconduct and national security breaches being filed.
The situation is further complicated by Cambodia’s historical ties with the Shinawatra family, including Hun Sen’s past hospitality to Thaksin and Yingluck during their exiles. This relationship, once a diplomatic asset, now appears to have turned into a liability, with Hun Sen publicly reminding Paetongtarn of these connections while releasing additional details of their April meeting in Phnom Penh. The Thai foreign ministry has lodged a formal protest with the Cambodian ambassador, but the damage to bilateral trust seems profound.
As Thailand grapples with this political turmoil, economic challenges loom large, with a decline in tourism revenue and the threat of U.S. tariffs adding pressure. Political analysts warn that the military, a dominant force in Thai politics since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, may see an opportunity to intervene if the government’s stability continues to erode. For now, Paetongtarn’s administration remains on edge, navigating a crisis that could reshape Thailand’s political landscape and its relations with its Southeast Asian neighbor.
