Cambodia Stresses Upholding International Order Principles, Border Changes by Force Unacceptable

Uch Borith, First Vice-President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, emphasized that maintaining the fundamental principles of international order, specifically that "no border can be unilaterally altered by force or by creating a 'fait accompli,'" is a real challenge beyond the current situation involving Cambodia. He stated that defending this principle is essential to protect the sovereign equality of states, preserve the credibility of international law, and strengthen the foundation of just and lasting peace. This statement was made during his intervention at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) on agenda item 6, "Examination of the political situation," held on July 7, 2026, at the Verre Paul Biya Palace in Cameroon. Mr. Borith also serves as the President of the Cambodian National Assembly's Francophonie Group and Vice-President of the APF. During the occasion, he expressed particular gratitude to the members of the APF Political Committee. He noted that during the Political Committee meeting in Siem Reap in May, some members directly witnessed the scale of destruction, evidence of blatant violations, and the suffering of displaced populations. They unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia. "This gesture of confidence and responsibility has deeply moved us and encouraged us to strive to find solutions to disputes solely through peaceful means, based on the spirit of dialogue and firm commitment," Mr. Borith stated. He further added that "peace stems from sincere dialogue, patience, adherence to commitments, and unwavering adherence to the principles of international law. These are the fundamental values that are the pillars of our Francophonie community." Concurrently, Mr. Borith reiterated his call for members of the assembly to pay attention to the worrying situation that continues to occur along Cambodia's western border. Cambodia had previously informed the assembly of this issue and expressed deep gratitude for the attention and valuable support provided by the assembly. He reminded the assembly that after the ceasefire agreement signed on December 27, 2025, thanks to regional mediation efforts, Cambodia has fully honored all its commitments. Cambodia has consistently prioritized patience, dialogue, and de-escalation. "But unfortunately, this will to de-escalate has not been met with the same spirit," he lamented. Cambodia alleges that since the day after the ceasefire came into effect, Thai forces have continued their unilateral activities in areas under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia. These activities include land clearing, installing barbed wire and containers, surrounding civilian villages, reinforcing military positions, constructing permanent infrastructure, holding religious ceremonies at Cambodian cultural and religious heritage sites, and destroying and replacing religious statues. Despite repeated official protests from Cambodia, these activities reportedly continue to this day.