Cambodia Urges Thailand to Resume Joint Border Demarcation

Cambodia continues to urge Thailand to send the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to the actual land to continue the work of surveying and placing temporary markers. On the afternoon of Monday, July 27, 2026, the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH), led by Commodore GLENN Z DIZON, Chief of Mission of the ASEAN Observer Team (HOM AOT) of the Philippines to Cambodia, attended a presentation by Mr. PROM SORN VATHANAK, Head of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Survey Team for Border Affairs. The presentation was on the "Progress of Demarcation and Border Marker Placement Work between Cambodia and Thailand," facilitated by the Coordination Liaison Group (CLG) of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Siem Reap Province. The presentation to the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) was organized to showcase the position of the Royal Government of Cambodia, which consistently adheres to resolving border issues through peaceful means in accordance with international law. This includes utilizing existing bilateral mechanisms, in compliance with effective conventions, treaties, and bilateral agreements, and in accordance with the mandate of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). During the session, in response to numerous questions from the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH) regarding the progress of demarcation and border marker placement work on the ground, the representative of the Border Affairs Secretariat clarified that following the special meeting of the JBC in Chanthaburi on October 22, 2025, the joint surveying and temporary marker placement work by the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) of both parties, particularly in the area of Chokchey Village, Prey Chan Village, and the border section between markers 52-59, has been completely stalled and obstructed. This is due to the Thai armed forces launching attacks and invading Cambodian sovereignty in many areas along the border, and continuing to occupy the territory illegally to this day, despite Cambodia having sent numerous diplomatic protests. Concurrently, the representative of the Border Affairs Secretariat also affirmed that Cambodia continues to urge the Thai side to dispatch the Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to the actual land to resume the work of surveying and placing temporary markers. Cambodia also urged the prompt organization of the Cambodia-Thailand JBC meeting and related technical meetings, in accordance with the existing agreements as stipulated in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Joint Declaration of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025, and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the JBC on October 22, 2025, in Chanthaburi. In accordance with these agreements, both parties have agreed to jointly push for the rapid and high-priority demarcation and boundary work on the ground by the JBC, in order to achieve lasting peace along the border and to allow innocent Cambodian civilians to return to their homes without hindrance, with safety and dignity. Cambodia firmly maintains its position in defending the Cambodia-Thailand international border inherited from the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission, respecting the principles of international law, the principle of immutability of borders (Uti Possidetis Juris), the French-Siam Convention, the Protocol on Border Demarcation, maps resulting from the demarcation work of the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission, meeting minutes, border marker placement minutes of the Indochina-Siam Boundary Commission, the MOU of 2000, the TOR of 2003, as well as other related agreements and documents that both parties have agreed upon in the past. In this regard, Cambodia unequivocally rejects any alteration of the border line resulting from the use of force and illegal occupation of territory through the creation of a fait accompli. Cambodia will continue to lodge official protests with the Thai side regarding any unilateral actions or any violations by the Thai side of Cambodia's legal territorial integrity. All rights reserved: Soth Ly