Military simulation event misrepresented as foreign troops bolstering Thai army
- Published on January 9, 2026 at 07:58
- 2 min read
- By Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE, AFP Thailand
During the latest flare-up of violence between Thailand and Cambodia in their decades-long border dispute, a video and photos were shared in social media posts falsely claiming they showed foreign soldiers who were secretly bolstering the ranks of the Thai military. The visuals in fact show a live-acted military simulation event held in Thailand, which the local organisers told AFP had nothing to do with the border conflict.
"Foreigners came to help Siam secretly -- no wonder Siam is so strong," reads a Khmer-language Facebook post shared on December 24, 2025, using a historic name for Thailand.
"Countries that sell weapons always want war for profit, while poor countries suffer because of their weapons," adds the post, which has over 100,000 views and more than 600 shares.
Attached to the post are a video and two photos, depicting people in military garb inside a camouflaged tent. They appear to be using laptops and communications gear and consulting maps.
The same visuals were also shared in similar Threads and Instagram posts during deadly clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops along their shared border in December 2025 (archived link).
The latest flare-up over a decades-long boundary dispute saw dozens killed and nearly a million people displaced before a truce was agreed on December 27 (archived link).
The video and photos circulating online, however, do not show foreign soldiers that supposedly bolstered the ranks of the Thai military.
A banner hanging in the tent visible in the background of the falsely shared video reads, "Thailand Military Impression Club".
A subsequent keyword search led to a Facebook page for the club, which posted video and photos on December 23 and 24 that matched those shared in the false posts (archived here and here).
"Milsim21/12/2025," reads the video's caption, using a portmanteau of "military simulation" -- events where participants wearing military apparel and brandishing realistic airsoft guns simulate combat (archived link).
Suchin Sookcharoen, co-owner of the Thailand Military Impression Club, told AFP the circulating visuals were taken from an event they organised in central Ratchaburi province which borders Myanmar.
"They have nothing to do with the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict," he said on January 6.
Suchin said the club has operated for nearly a decade, organising military simulation games that recreate real and fictional battles.
"Some tourists wear uniforms that resemble real ones, which might confuse people online," he said.
AFP previously debunked a similar claim that Israeli troops had arrived to support Thai soldiers in the conflict with Cambodia.
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