Thailand-Cambodia border dispute: How a leaked phone call between a former strongman and a young leader could topple a government
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Thai Prime Minister Faces Coalition Collapse After Leaked Cambodia Call
Above: Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks to the media during a press conference at the government house. Image copyright: Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
This leaked call exposes Paetongtarn's fundamental weakness and inexperience in handling national security matters. Her casual dismissal of military commanders while kowtowing to a foreign leader demonstrates she's unfit to lead Thailand during this critical border crisis. This government continues to grow more unpopular by the day, and change is needed.
Pro-government narrative
Thailand's prime minister was conducting legitimate diplomacy to prevent military escalation with Cambodia, using negotiation tactics to defuse tensions. Her critics are exploiting this private conversation to destabilize a democratically elected government for political gain. Paetongtarn must be able to conduct diplomacy without the threat of a military coup, a sad possibility in Thailand.