Senate president Hun Sen has blasted Thai accusations that Cambodia used Chinese funding to host the 2023 SEA Games, even as the Thai-hosted games appear to be in difficulty. - Photo: SHS
PHNOM PENH: Former Prime Minister Hun Sen hit back at Thai accusations that the 32nd SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia were hosted with “Chinese money”.
His reaction came after some Thai people claimed in a viral video that this year’s games, hosted by Thailand, cannot be compared with Cambodia as the Kingdom’s games used Chinese money.
Several errors have occurred at “Thailand 2025”, from incorrect national anthems at football matches to AI-generated posted to promote the games.
These mistakes led some Cambodians to recall the 2023 games, with Senate president Hun Sen posting a short video of his speech at the Chinese-sponsored Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Some Thai people accused the then globally praised event of being paid for with Chinese money.
"On Dec 4, 2025, my official Facebook page posted a video about the closing of the SEA Games in Cambodia. I did not expect that through this video, some Thai people would say that I intend to slander Thailand, the host of the 2025 SEA Games.
"I do not aim to compare Cambodia with other countries because each country has its own way of handling its affairs and I do not dare to compare with Thailand, where some people have come out to claim that it is a rich country and scorn Cambodia as a poor country with half of the country being beggars," said Hun Sen, in a social media post.
"What is even more shocking is that some Thai people claim that you cannot compare Thailand with Cambodia because Cambodia hosted the games using Chinese money. Such things reflect a personal characteristic or a Thai characteristic that likes to look down on others and make up stories," he added.
He accepted that China, through President Xi Jinping, helped to build the Morodok Techo Stadium, the venue used for the opening and closing SEA Games.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Chinese friends again for helping build this sports complex that Cambodia will use for generations to come," he said.
In 2023, Cambodia staged the competition at many other venues, including in the provinces, using existing complexes, including those left behind from the 1960s.
He explained that the 2023 SEA Games budget came from the government’s funds from 2018 to 2022, at almost US$10 million per year, with a budget of nearly US$50 million.
This was topped up by $150 million from the 2023 budget, totalling around $200 million. The total spend was $130 million, including the Asean Para Games and prize pools for sports at all levels, according to Hun Sen.
The 2023 games was the first time in 64 years that Cambodian hosted; It then surprised the world by hosting all contestants for free.
"Cambodia is a poor country, poor in resources, but not poor in heart. We only spent about $12 million dollars to cover the costs of hosting our friends," Hun Sen said.
"I hope that the Thais who are talking about Cambodia will retrack their words that say, ‘Don't compare Thailand with Cambodia, as Cambodia hosted the SEA Games with Chinese money’ because using such statement not only disrespects Cambodia, but is also a slap in the face of China," he added.
He explained that he reserves the right to respond to protect Cambodian dignity and explain the issue to the Cambodian people, as well as the Thais. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
