Cambodia and Thailand to Resume UNCLOS Maritime Talks

PHNOM PENH, Sep 17, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Wednesday that Cambodia and Thailand will resume conciliation talks over their disputed maritime boundary in The Hague next month, following the conclusion of the first round in Singapore. Sokhonn told reporters the second meeting will take place from October 14 to 18 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with the Permanent Court of Arbitration serving as registry. He said Cambodia’s team is working closely with government‑appointed experts and the five‑member conciliation commission, and will continue to prepare and collect relevant documents for the next session. At the Singapore talks, held from September 14 to 16, Cambodia proposed a treaty to jointly delimit the maritime boundary and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the commission. Sokhonn said Phnom Penh also suggested a framework for joint development and equitable sharing of seabed resources. “If such an agreement cannot yet be reached, Cambodia and Thailand should seek an understanding on joint development,” he said, stressing cooperation and mutual respect. He expressed confidence in the commission, describing its members as international legal experts with extensive experience in maritime law and diplomacy. The Singapore meeting included procedural sessions, the signing of documents, and confidential discussions on the background to the dispute. Cambodia initiated the conciliation process in June, saying it had entered in good faith and remained committed to a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution. The dispute involves overlapping claims in an area believed to contain potential offshore energy resources. The outcome of the Hague meeting could determine whether the two countries move towards a permanent boundary accord or pursue interim arrangements for joint resource development.