Cambodia Pursues International Law for Maritime Dispute with Thailand

SINGAPORE, Sept 15, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has chosen international law to resolve its maritime dispute with Thailand after Bangkok cancelled a 2001 memorandum of understanding, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Tuesday at the opening of a UN conciliation process in Singapore. Speaking as Cambodia’s agent before the Conciliation Commission established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Sokhonn said Cambodia believed legal mechanisms offered the best path toward a fair and lasting settlement. “Cambodia took this step to find a peaceful pathway forward in accordance with international law,” he said, adding the process was intended to rebuild trust rather than escalate tensions. Sokhonn said Cambodia’s objective was not only to settle overlapping maritime claims but also to create opportunities for cooperation and resource development. A settlement based on international law, he argued, could protect sovereignty while enabling joint use of maritime resources. The two countries signed the 2001 MoU to guide negotiations over their continental shelf claims, but talks failed to produce agreement on a boundary or joint development. Resources in the disputed waters remain untapped. Sokhonn urged Thailand to engage constructively in the conciliation process and to strengthen wider bilateral relations. He cited Cambodia’s past recourse to the International Court of Justice and the UNCLOS conciliation between Timor‑Leste and Australia as examples of how international mechanisms can resolve complex disputes peacefully. “Cambodia is confident this Commission is well placed to help achieve a result that brings peace, stability and shared prosperity to the region,” he said. The Cambodian delegation pledged to work with Thailand and the commission in a spirit of good faith and mutual respect.