Cambodia and Thailand Hold First UNCLOS Conciliation Meeting on Maritime Dispute

Cambodia and Thailand have successfully concluded the first meeting of a conciliation commission established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in Singapore, aimed at resolving their maritime dispute. The three-day meeting, held from September 14th to 16th, focused on finding the best means for neighboring countries to resolve their maritime conflict. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, briefed journalists upon his return about the proceedings. On the first day, both parties and the commission held a joint session to discuss procedures, during which they agreed on the terms of reference for the commission. Following this agreement, Cambodia and Thailand signed the terms of reference, and discussions also covered the format, procedures, and subsequent tasks, as well as future meetings. The second day marked the official opening ceremony, with both countries' foreign ministers delivering statements. Cambodia reiterated the reasons behind its decision to initiate the conciliation process and emphasized its commitment to international law and its objectives. The meeting included both open and closed sessions, allowing both Cambodia and Thailand to present their respective objectives and stances on the disputed maritime border. In the closed sessions, each party met separately with the commission for three hours. Cambodia presented the history of the dispute, its arguments, its position, and its desired outcomes from the commission's mediation, with the commission posing numerous questions that were addressed by Cambodia's team and foreign legal counsel. The third day involved a joint meeting between Cambodia, Thailand, and the commission, focusing on the format and agenda for the second meeting, scheduled to take place from October 14th to 18th, 2026, in The Hague, Netherlands, spanning four and a half days. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn stated that during these three days, neither Cambodia nor Thailand made any additional commentary or input to the draft joint press statement by the commission. On the morning of September 16th, both parties continued discussions on the draft agenda for the upcoming meetings. Source: CPP Cambodia