Cambodian PM Denies Territory Cession to Thailand in 2025 Ceasefire Deal

PHNOM PENH, Sept 16, 2026 (KPT) —Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on Wednesday rejected claims that agreements reached with Thailand in 2025 ceded Cambodian territory, saying the ceasefire and Kuala Lumpur peace accord were intended only to halt fighting and create conditions for negotiations. Speaking at the inauguration of Luang Mae Hospital, Samdech Thipadei said neither the ceasefire nor the KL accord contained provisions transferring Cambodian land. He stressed that a key clause required both sides to stop fighting and remain in their positions to prevent further escalation. “The second point of the border agreement says to stop fighting where you are. This point aims to prevent the fighting from expanding on the ground,” he said. He added that another provision explicitly stated the truce would not prejudice the existing boundary. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet dismissed accusations that Cambodian officials had surrendered territory, describing such claims as a misunderstanding of the ceasefire’s purpose. “Accusing the defence minister of signing an agreement to annex land is entirely wrong and a misunderstanding,” he said. “The signing of the truce at that time meant stopping the fighting and returning to negotiations.” He said the determination of the Cambodia–Thailand border would be addressed through existing bilateral mechanisms, including the General Border Committee, the Regional Border Committee and the Joint Boundary Commission. According to Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, the issue must be resolved in line with international law, diplomatic dialogue and technical processes based on treaties, official documents and agreed mechanisms. “The 2025 ceasefire was not an agreement to betray the nation, but an agreement to stop the fighting and return to resolving the border issue peacefully,” he said.