Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen Photo: VCG

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen on Saturday rejected claims by some Thai netizens that Cambodia had hosted the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games using Chinese funding, while expressing gratitude to China for its assistance in building the Morodok Techo National Stadium, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games and which Cambodia will use for generations to come. 

In a post on his official Facebook page, Hun Sen clarified that "we did not use even a single cent of Chinese or foreign money" to organize the sporting event.

According to Hun Sen's Facebook post, the statement was issued in response to comments made by some Thai netizens after he shared a video on Thursday about the closing ceremony of the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. Some of the comments accused him of intending to "slander Thailand," which will host the 33rd SEA Games in 2025, and alleged that Cambodia had relied on Chinese funding to host the 32nd edition.

Hun Sen described the accusations as "shocking." He explained that although the Morodok Techo Stadium—used for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as several competitions—was built with the assistance of "Chinese friends," for which Cambodia remains grateful, the operational expenses of the Games were fully covered by Cambodia itself. "Speaking of expenses for the competition, we did not use even a single cent of Chinese or foreign money," he wrote.

He provided further details on the financial arrangements for the 2023 SEA Games, noting that Cambodia had incorporated the costs in its annual national budgets from 2018 to 2022, with nearly $10 million allocated each year, totaling close to $50 million. For 2023, an additional $150 million was earmarked in the budget law, bringing the overall planned expenditure to nearly $200 million.

"I hope that the Thais who are talking about Cambodia will remove the words that say, 'Don't compare Thailand with Cambodia, as Cambodia is hosting the SEA Games with Chinese money,'" Hun Sen said in the post.

He further emphasized that "not allowing our friends to pay is Cambodia's first initiative, which is my decision in order to strengthen solidarity in ASEAN through sports."

In the final part of his statement, Hun Sen said, "I hope that Thailand does well in the 2025 SEA Games and handles the flood disaster well," while also stressing that he reserves "the right to respond to protect Cambodian dignity and explain to the Cambodian people and the Thai people as well."

According to Xinhua News Agency, the 32nd SEA Games were held in Cambodia from May 5 to May 17, 2023, under the motto "Sport: Live in Peace." The closing ceremony took place at the 60,000-seat Morodok Techo National Stadium, where Cambodia handed over the SEA Games Federation flag to Thailand, the host of the 33rd edition in 2025.

Global Times