Cambodian Senate Rejects Thai Claims in Border Dispute, Reaffirms Sovereignty

PHNOM PENH, September 7, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s Senate has rejected allegations from a Thai parliamentary commission regarding a simmering border dispute, reaffirming Phnom Penh’s sovereignty over the contested territory. In a statement issued by the Senate Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Information, chairman [name not provided] dismissed remarks made on September 2 by Senator Nophadol In-na, head of the Thai Senate Advisory Commission on Foreign Affairs. The Cambodian commission accused Thailand of maintaining forward military deployments and conducting aerial incursions, actions it said violated international law, the UN Charter and bilateral agreements. Phnom Penh rejected Bangkok’s argument that the Joint Statement of the third Special Session of the General Border Committee, signed on December 27, 2025, could justify Thailand’s current troop positions. The ceasefire, it said, was intended to halt hostilities and could not establish sovereignty or create new territorial rights. Cambodia insisted disputed or unsurveyed areas must be addressed through existing treaties and diplomatic mechanisms, citing historical accords such as the Franco-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907. The Senate also denied Thai claims that Cambodia initiated clashes in 2025, accusing Bangkok of making unsubstantiated allegations and using references to transnational crime and online scams to justify military action. It called for an independent international investigation, including forensic analysis to determine which side fired first and whether civilian areas were deliberately targeted. Cambodia further challenged Thailand’s description of more than 20,000 displaced Cambodians as “encroachers,” saying they were internally displaced by recent border tensions and had the right to return safely and with dignity. The commission defended its decision to raise the dispute in regional and international parliamentary forums, rejecting calls to avoid “internationalising” the issue. Parliamentary diplomacy, it argued, was a legitimate and peaceful means of informing the global community. The statement concluded that lasting trust between the two countries required respect for international law, bilateral agreements and established mechanisms for resolving territorial disputes. Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful settlement based on transparency, mutual trust and respect for historical treaties.