The exact cause of the feud is unknown, and what Hun Sen hopes to gain from the tension remains unclear. However, observers view the border conflict as part of Hun Sen’s plan to bolster his son Hun Manet’s legitimacy as his successor, with the crisis seen as a means of stirring nationalism among Cambodians93. As border tensions have escalated, an information war has unfolded between the two countries. The situation offers insights into Cambodia’s disinformation and propaganda ecosystem, which has developed over decades of authoritarian rule and the intense crackdown on independent media. As information warfare intensified, some sources noted possible links to Cambodia’s scam operations, often described as among the largest in the world94. In 2025, several individuals allegedly involved in these operations were blacklisted by the United States and the United Kingdom95, 96. Many of them reportedly have close ties to the Hun family and other Cambodian political elites97, 98, 99. The Hun family has also been accused of benefiting from these scam operations100, 101. “Hun Sen’s Nationalist Card: Border Tensions as a Shield for Dynastic Power.” The Nation, 7 June 2025, www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40050922. 94. National News Bureau of Thailand. Thai National Security Agencies Have Reported a Wave of Coordinated Cyber Activity Linked to Scam Networks and Gambling Financiers. Facebook, 25 July 2025, www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/thai-national-security-agencies-have-reported-a-wave-of-coordinated-cyber-activi/1145550704275725. 95. Lamb, Kate. “Who Are Chen Zhi and the Prince Group, Accused by the US and UK of Large-Scale Scam Operations?” The Guardian, 17 Oct. 2025, www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/17/chen-zhi-princegroup-cambodia-cyber-crime-sanctioned. 96. Regan, Helen. “The Young Tycoon Accused of Masterminding a Multibillion-Dollar International Fraud Network.” CNN, 24 Oct. 2025, edition.cnn.com/2025/10/24/asia/cambodia-scams-chen-zhi-prince-groupintl-hnk. 97. Faulder, Dominic, and Danielle Keeton-Olsen. “Thailand Strikes at Cambodia With Raids on Tycoon Kok An’s Properties.” Nikkei Asia, 8 July 2025, asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/society/crime/thailand-strikes-atcambodia-with-raids-on-tycoon-kok-an-s-properties. 98. “Prince Group and Chen Zhi Linked to $15 Billion US Scam and Money Laundering, Thai Firm Denies Involvement.” The Nation, 18 Oct. 2025, www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40056946. 99. “Kok An: ‘Godfather of Poipet,’ Ally of Hun Sen – and Now Thailand’s Most-Wanted.” Thai PBS World, 18 July 2025, world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/kok-an-godfather-of-poipet-ally-of-hun-sen-and-now-thailandsmostwanted-/58238. 100. “Thai Cyber Police Track Scam Millions to Cambodian Firm, Hun Sen Family Link Probed.” The Nation, 16 June 2025, www.nationthailand.com/news/politics/40051321. 101. “Report: Online Cybercriminal Marketplace Is Part of Cambodian Conglomerate.” Radio Free Asia, 15 July 2024, www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/huione-elliptic-cybercriminal-onlinemarketplace-07152024160931.html. 93. 27