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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

A woman harvests rice in Kandal province, Cambodia. Spiking fuel and fertiliser costs are rattling major rice-growing regions. Photo: EPA-EFE

Food and agriculture

Asia’s ‘panicked farmers’ brace for a looming rice crisis post-Iran war

Shortages of imported fertilisers and fuel could not have come at a worse time for many Southeast Asian rice farmers.

11 Apr 2026 - 11:04AM

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Inside a scam centre on the Cambodia-Thailand border

10 Apr 2026 - 7:12PM

Thailand

Thailand seizes US$260 million from scammers in ‘decisive’ crackdown

10 Apr 2026 - 7:20PMvideocam

Thailand

Thai men volunteer for military, driven by prospect of steady salary

Youth unemployment is roughly five times the national average and a stable job is rare for many entering the workforce.

9 Apr 2026 - 10:15AM

A soldier puts a hat on an enlisted man during the Thai military conscription drawing in Bangkok on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Banking & finance

As France pulls gold from the US, how can China become the next global gold hub?

Federal Reserve is no longer seen as a ‘safe’ place for nations to store gold as Trump’s unpredictability spooks the world’s central banks.

8 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Why Cambodia’s new law may do little to combat its scam centres

Analysts warn the lack of provisions addressing the role officials and networks play in enabling scams may limit the law’s effectiveness.

10 Apr 2026 - 7:19PMvideocam

Scams and swindles

Opinion | To beat Cambodia’s scam gangs, US must work with China – not blame it

Taking down the deeply rooted, well-connected syndicates would require both Washington’s economic leverage and Beijing’s operational efforts.

8 Apr 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Thailand

Oil smugglers in Thailand worsen supply crisis as Anutin warns of tough times

Police are investigating alleged oil hoarding in southern Thailand and reselling to nearby countries, citing ‘abnormal’ vessel movements.

6 Apr 2026 - 8:04PMvideocam

Scams and swindles

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

4 Apr 2026 - 6:22AMvideocam

Asean

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

Granting Southeast Asian vessels safe passage through the strait allows Iran to come across as a diplomatic good guy, analysts say.

2 Apr 2026 - 3:19PMvideocam

An oil tanker sits anchored off Muscat, Oman, on March 10. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Highlights

Cambodia’s scam industry exodus, Jollibee’s diaspora effect: 7 Asia highlights

From Cambodia’s scam industry exodus to Jollibee’s meaning to overseas Filipinos, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

31 Mar 2026 - 1:06PM

Jollibee employees attend to customers at an outlet in Manila in 2015. Photo: AFP

Indonesia

A US$19 billion scam industry is fleeing Cambodia. Where will it end up?

Scam bosses and their multibillion-dollar crime networks are fleeing to Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ahead of an April deadline.

29 Mar 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore seizes record Asian pangolin scales disguised as ‘dried fish skin’

The scales – estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangolins – were found after officials intercepted an inbound truck carrying sea cargo.

28 Mar 2026 - 5:59PM

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Getting worse each day’: why Southeast Asia is vulnerable to the fuel crisis

From Laos to Thailand, long queues are forming at petrol stations while residents are reeling from surging fuel prices.

23 Mar 2026 - 9:02PMvideocam

People queue to buy petrol at a station in Hanoi amid disruptions in supply and price surges due to the Iran war. Photo: Reuters

Thailand

Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy

Facing economic challenges and border tensions with Cambodia, the prime minister has pledged swift responses to public needs.

19 Mar 2026 - 5:06PMvideocam

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reacts at parliament in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Singapore

Cambodia boosts Singapore and Malaysia fuel imports to survive energy crisis

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak says ‘an Asean power grid is the way to go’ as Vietnam and China restrict exports to Phnom Penh.

19 Mar 2026 - 12:57PMvideocam

Asean

Opinion | Tariffs grab headlines, but non-tariff barriers decide winners in Asean

Trump’s flashy tariffs get the attention, but non-tariff barriers are what truly kill competition and leave firms and consumers worse off.

19 Mar 2026 - 5:50AMvideocam

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong Tourism Board to woo overnight big spenders, diversify visitor mix

Board executive director Anthony Lau says 75 per cent of its resources will go towards overseas markets.

18 Mar 2026 - 9:44PM

Hong Kong will bring down the curtain on the two-decade-old “A Symphony of Lights”. Photo: Sam Tsang

Asean

New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties

The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.

18 Mar 2026 - 6:28PM

Thailand

Thailand to build fence along parts of Cambodian border for ‘peace of mind’

The military plans to add permanent walls and electronic fences equipped with sensors and CCTV cameras to the 1.3km barrier.

17 Mar 2026 - 7:55PM

Scams and swindles

Video | Cambodia police raid AI-driven scam centre targeting Europe

Cambodia arrested 65 suspects in a Phnom Penh raid on an alleged AI-powered scam centre that targeted European victims with live video calls.

3 Apr 2026 - 3:56PM

Major General Bun Sosekha, deputy commissioner in charge of the Security Unit Commissariat of Phnom Penh, looks at a seized monitor at a cyberscam operation centre following a raid the night before in Phnom Penh on March 11, 2026. Multilingual scripts, images of young women and timed toilet breaks: a police tour of a newly busted cyberscam operation in Cambodia on March 11 revealed how fraudsters ensnare foreign victims online. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP) / To go with ‘CAMBODIA-CYBERCRIME-FRAUD,FOCUS’ by Suy SE and Sally JENSEN

02:26

Asia travel

Beyond Angkor Wat’s allure: discovering Cambodia’s hidden gems

From authentic Khmer dining and luxe temple living at Anantara Angkor Resort, to Phnom Penh’s vibrant streets, riverside strolls and artisanal souvenirs.

12 Mar 2026 - 12:00PM

A view of the pool at Anantara Angkor Resort. Photo: Handout

Scams and swindles

150,000 Meta accounts shut down in Southeast Asian scam centre crackdown

Meta has also launched protective tools such as Facebook and WhatsApp alerts for suspicious friend requests and activities.

12 Mar 2026 - 8:17PMvideocam

United States

US launches trade probe into China and EU in bid to revive Trump tariffs

The Section 301 investigations could lead to another set of import taxes to replace those struck down by the Supreme Court.

12 Mar 2026 - 7:46AM

Thailand

Iran war fallout threatens ‘quick wins’ for Thailand’s economy

As drivers panic buy diesel and the public is urged to limit air con use, Thai civil servants are ordered home to preserve dwindling energy.

11 Mar 2026 - 6:43PM

A petrol station attendant fills the tank of a car in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday. Some drivers have begun panic buying diesel amid fears of a fuel shortage. Photo: AP

Weather

A heatwave is coming to Southeast Asia. So is an energy shock

Indonesia and Malaysia are set to feel the worst of an early summer first, compounding an LNG supply crisis triggered by the Iran war.

9 Mar 2026 - 4:22PM

A women uses an electric fan to cool off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong charity cancels ‘Race for Water’ fundraiser weeks before event

Annual trail-running fundraiser organised by A Drop of Life was to take place on March 22, but will no longer proceed.

8 Mar 2026 - 8:40PM

Singapore

Singapore police seize US$390 million in assets in Prince Group probe

Three men, including the captain of Chen Zhi’s superyacht, have been arrested in connection with the case, police announced.

5 Mar 2026 - 4:34PM

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Cambodia

Asia’s ‘panicked farmers’ brace for a looming rice crisis post-Iran war

Shortages of imported fertilisers and fuel could not have come at a worse time for many Southeast Asian rice farmers.

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Inside a scam centre on the Cambodia-Thailand border

Thailand seizes US$260 million from scammers in ‘decisive’ crackdown

Thai men volunteer for military, driven by prospect of steady salary

Youth unemployment is roughly five times the national average and a stable job is rare for many entering the workforce.

As France pulls gold from the US, how can China become the next global gold hub?

Federal Reserve is no longer seen as a ‘safe’ place for nations to store gold as Trump’s unpredictability spooks the world’s central banks.

Why Cambodia’s new law may do little to combat its scam centres

Analysts warn the lack of provisions addressing the role officials and networks play in enabling scams may limit the law’s effectiveness.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | To beat Cambodia’s scam gangs, US must work with China – not blame it

Taking down the deeply rooted, well-connected syndicates would require both Washington’s economic leverage and Beijing’s operational efforts.

Oil smugglers in Thailand worsen supply crisis as Anutin warns of tough times

Police are investigating alleged oil hoarding in southern Thailand and reselling to nearby countries, citing ‘abnormal’ vessel movements.

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

Granting Southeast Asian vessels safe passage through the strait allows Iran to come across as a diplomatic good guy, analysts say.

Cambodia’s scam industry exodus, Jollibee’s diaspora effect: 7 Asia highlights

From Cambodia’s scam industry exodus to Jollibee’s meaning to overseas Filipinos, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A US$19 billion scam industry is fleeing Cambodia. Where will it end up?

Scam bosses and their multibillion-dollar crime networks are fleeing to Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ahead of an April deadline.

Singapore seizes record Asian pangolin scales disguised as ‘dried fish skin’

The scales – estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangolins – were found after officials intercepted an inbound truck carrying sea cargo.

‘Getting worse each day’: why Southeast Asia is vulnerable to the fuel crisis

From Laos to Thailand, long queues are forming at petrol stations while residents are reeling from surging fuel prices.

Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy

Facing economic challenges and border tensions with Cambodia, the prime minister has pledged swift responses to public needs.

Cambodia boosts Singapore and Malaysia fuel imports to survive energy crisis

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak says ‘an Asean power grid is the way to go’ as Vietnam and China restrict exports to Phnom Penh.

Opinion | Tariffs grab headlines, but non-tariff barriers decide winners in Asean

Trump’s flashy tariffs get the attention, but non-tariff barriers are what truly kill competition and leave firms and consumers worse off.

Hong Kong Tourism Board to woo overnight big spenders, diversify visitor mix

Board executive director Anthony Lau says 75 per cent of its resources will go towards overseas markets.

New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties

The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.

Thailand to build fence along parts of Cambodian border for ‘peace of mind’

The military plans to add permanent walls and electronic fences equipped with sensors and CCTV cameras to the 1.3km barrier.

Video | Cambodia police raid AI-driven scam centre targeting Europe

Cambodia arrested 65 suspects in a Phnom Penh raid on an alleged AI-powered scam centre that targeted European victims with live video calls.

Beyond Angkor Wat’s allure: discovering Cambodia’s hidden gems

From authentic Khmer dining and luxe temple living at Anantara Angkor Resort, to Phnom Penh’s vibrant streets, riverside strolls and artisanal souvenirs.

150,000 Meta accounts shut down in Southeast Asian scam centre crackdown

Meta has also launched protective tools such as Facebook and WhatsApp alerts for suspicious friend requests and activities.

US launches trade probe into China and EU in bid to revive Trump tariffs

The Section 301 investigations could lead to another set of import taxes to replace those struck down by the Supreme Court.

Iran war fallout threatens ‘quick wins’ for Thailand’s economy

As drivers panic buy diesel and the public is urged to limit air con use, Thai civil servants are ordered home to preserve dwindling energy.

A heatwave is coming to Southeast Asia. So is an energy shock

Indonesia and Malaysia are set to feel the worst of an early summer first, compounding an LNG supply crisis triggered by the Iran war.

Hong Kong charity cancels ‘Race for Water’ fundraiser weeks before event

Annual trail-running fundraiser organised by A Drop of Life was to take place on March 22, but will no longer proceed.

Singapore police seize US$390 million in assets in Prince Group probe

Three men, including the captain of Chen Zhi’s superyacht, have been arrested in connection with the case, police announced.

Video | Inside a scam centre on the Cambodia-Thailand border

Opinion | To beat Cambodia’s scam gangs, US must work with China – not blame it