Cambodia Protests Thai AOT Activities, Files Complaint with Philippines

General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), has written to General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to protest activities by the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) from Thailand. The incident reportedly occurred on June 29, 2026. According to the letter, General Vong Pisen expressed strong concern over an activity that took place on June 26, 2026. He stated that members of the AOT team based in Thailand, accompanied by Thai armed forces, entered Cambodia's sovereign territory in an area near the Khnar Temple, located in Koun Kreal Commune, Samrong City, Oddar Meanchey Province, without prior notification or any level of cooperation with the Cambodian side. In the letter, General Vong Pisen pointed out that after entering Cambodian sovereign territory without permission, they proceeded to carry out tree-planting activities. He contrasted this with Cambodia's consistent practice of informing the Thai side about all AOT observation activities at all relevant levels. General Vong Pisen reiterated that the RCAF has clearly confirmed that the aforementioned area is within the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as shown in Annex "B" of the map. Despite Cambodia's clear clarification of the area's location, the Thai AOT team, accompanied by Thai armed forces, still entered Cambodian sovereign territory without any notification or request for consent from the Cambodian side. "The RCAF considers these activities to be completely inconsistent with the principles of neutrality, confidence-building, and mutual respect, which form the cornerstone of the AOT mechanism," the letter stated. It warned that any activities conducted beyond agreed-upon jurisdictions, especially in sensitive border areas, could risk undermining the trust that both parties have painstakingly built and negatively impact ongoing efforts to achieve peaceful and sustainable solutions to border-related issues. In the letter, General Vong Pisen also stated that to preserve the trust and integrity of the AOT mechanism, he respectfully requested the support of the Philippine Chief of Staff in reviewing the aforementioned activities and ensuring that all AOT officers strictly adhere to the agreed Terms of Reference (TOR) and maintain the expected neutrality in their mission. Strict adherence to these terms is crucial for maintaining mutual trust and ensuring that the AOT continues to fulfill its role as a mechanism for de-escalation and confidence-building. General Vong Pisen affirmed, "The RCAF remains committed to continuing close cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and all relevant parties to maintain peace, stability, and positive dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand." He also expressed sincere respect and admiration for the valuable leadership and commitment of the Philippine Armed Forces in leading the AOT under the bilateral confidence-building mechanism agreed upon between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand. He emphasized that the RCAF fully supports the implementation of the TOR for all AOT activities and remains firmly committed to promoting transparency, mutual trust, and peaceful resolution along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Source: AKP Khmer