Cambodia Urges Thailand to Resume Land Border Demarcation Talks

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia has urged Thailand to cease its pretexts for intentionally delaying the land border demarcation process and to return to the process in good faith. This statement comes in response to recent remarks by Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew, who claimed that Cambodia's decision to proceed with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration mechanism had "closed the door" to land border negotiations. The Cambodian spokesperson stated that this claim is not true. The maritime and land borders are governed by different legal frameworks and bilateral mechanisms. Cambodia's choice to pursue a resolution under UNCLOS pertains solely to maritime border issues. The UNCLOS is a peaceful means for resolving maritime disputes, and its utilization should be seen as a confidence-building measure rather than a cause for concern for any neighboring country genuinely committed to international law principles. The spokesperson further argued that choosing a maritime resolution route cannot serve as a valid basis for suspending unrelated work on land border demarcation through the Joint Commission on Land Boundary Demarcation, as agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of June 14, 2000, and reaffirmed in the ceasefire agreement of December 27, 2025. It is recalled that Thailand unilaterally withdrew from the only agreed bilateral mechanism for negotiating maritime boundary issues, despite Cambodia's direct requests not to do so. Furthermore, while Thailand protests Cambodia's initiation of the UNCLOS dispute resolution mechanism, Thailand itself has repeatedly shown its intention to rely on UNCLOS to resolve maritime issues. Therefore, Cambodia reiterates its call for Thailand to stop creating pretexts for intentional delays and to return to the land border demarcation process in good faith, as agreed under the terms of the 2000 MOU and the ceasefire agreement of December 27, 2025. The spokesperson affirmed that there is no legal or practical reason for the Joint Commission on Land Boundary Demarcation to delay its work while the UNCLOS maritime issue is being processed. This appeal has also been raised internationally. On July 11, 2026, the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for de-escalation of tensions, and supporting the continued work of the Joint Commission on Land Boundary Demarcation. The international community expects Thailand to respect the 1962 and 2013 judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Preah Vihear Temple and the land boundary demarcation in accordance with the 1904 treaty and the 1907 treaty, as acknowledged by both parties in the 2000 MOU. The Cambodian spokesperson considered the indefinite postponement of the land border demarcation work to permanently occupy and annex Cambodian territory, which Thailand is illegally occupying, as a grave violation of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter, which cannot be allowed to continue. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer