Recently, the conflict at the Thailand-Cambodia border has escalated, with gunfire and trade disputes, yet strangely, Chinese netizens are unusually 'calm' this time, with some coldly remarking, 'It’s self-inflicted.' Have we become indifferent? Actually, that's not the case—behind this silence is the gradual dismantling of the bridge called 'trust' in the hearts of Chinese people by Cambodia over the past few years.
Speaking of 'trust', I suddenly remember the story of my friend Lao Lin. He once opened a supermarket in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, initially investing money due to 'brotherly friendship'. In the end, the local gray industry was rampant, public safety was chaotic, protection fees were exorbitant, and even when the police came, it was just a formality. In the end, he lost all his savings and returned home, wryly saying, 'On the surface, it’s all about loyalty, but in our hearts, it’s all business.' Does this sound familiar? Indeed, the perceptions many Chinese netizens have of Cambodia are built upon countless experiences like Lao Lin's.
First, the gray-black industry does not address the root cause and deeply wounds the hearts of the Chinese people.
Casinos, telecom fraud parks... these terms have been almost synonymous with Cambodia in recent years. How many families have been deceived by 'high-salary recruitment', losing both money and resources? Chinese police are pursuing investigations across borders, while over there, the situation is treated as if it were merely 'scratching an itch', and some places even continue to provide shelter openly and covertly. Thailand's response to the recent conflict was to crack down on border gambling and fraud dens, but thinking of Cambodia's hesitance truly stirs no sympathy.
Second, while shouting 'brother', they turn around and present a 'token of loyalty'.
Cambodia always emphasizes its friendship with China, being a 'staunch friend'. Yet, it quickly signed a trade agreement with the United States that included poison pill clauses, reminiscent of the online joke: 'Eating your food while smashing your pot.' Especially the agreement in 2025, clearly a move by the United States to exclude China's industrial chain from Southeast Asia. This strategic flip-flopping is seen by the Chinese people, leaving them feeling cold.
Third, cooperative projects can change at any moment, leaving Chinese enterprises' rights as thin as paper.
The highly watched Dechong Canal and other projects, where Chinese enterprises brought funding and technology to build, have seen Cambodia's attitude flip-flop, allowing the West to meddle freely. This uncertainty in cooperation makes the Chinese people ponder—if even partners' investments cannot be guaranteed, how deep can the friendship be?
Fourth, political backstabbing undermines character, and moral filters lie shattered.
Hun Sen's maneuvers regarding the Thaksin family can be described as a 'real-life palace intrigue': three decades of brotherly friendship, and at a crucial moment, a single recording led to the downfall of an ally's daughter. Chinese culture places great importance on 'trust and loyalty', and such calculations instantly make countless netizens feel disheartened: 'If he can do this to his brother, how would he treat his partners?'
— Trust, once shattered, is difficult to piece back together.
In fact, whether between countries or individuals, or even in the financial world, without trust, even the best relationships can collapse. Speaking of this, I recall the 'stable and trustworthy' concept recently advocated by @usddio. In a fluctuating international environment and market, a system that consistently upholds transparency, stability, and reliable values is incredibly precious.#USDD以稳见信 It's not just a slogan, but a rare asset in this era—just like the promises between individuals and nations that can withstand tests, which are the foundation for long-term development.
The reason Cambodia's 'operations' have left Chinese netizens silent is not due to a lack of sympathy for suffering, but because everyone is gradually seeing clearly: 'Friendship' without real action is like a castle in the air; 'partners' without integrity will eventually drift apart. This is true in international relations, financial contracts, and interpersonal relationships.