Angkor Wat Replica in Thailand Sparks Diplomatic Concerns

via Phnom Penh Post, 01 October 2023: The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Cambodia has dispatched experts to Thailand’s Buriram province to investigate the construction of a temple that appears to be a replica of Angkor Wat. Judging from the image, it’s hard to say if the temple can be called a copy of Angkor Wat. It’s definitely Khmer style, but this style can also be found in Buriram. The ministry has been monitoring the situation since 2021 and has engaged in diplomatic discussions with Thai authorities.

In response to concerns expressed by Cambodian citizens, particularly on social media, calling for the government and relevant institutions to intervene in the construction of the structure that closely resembles the World Heritage site, the ministry said it has been closely monitoring construction activities at the site since they first became aware of the issue in 2021.

Previous actions taken by the ministry have primarily involved diplomatic discussions with their counterparts at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh and the Thai culture ministry.

“After sending experts to inspect the construction site at Wat Phu Man Fah, we found that no additional construction has taken place,” said the Cambodian culture ministry in a September 26 statement.

Source: Ministry taking steps over Thai ‘replica’ of Angkor Wat | Phnom Penh Post