Cambodia's UNCLOS Process with Thailand Highlights Maritime Stability

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 22, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s use of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) conciliation mechanism to address maritime differences with Thailand is highlighting the role of international law and diplomacy in managing disputes and supporting stability in the Indo‑Pacific, experts said last week. The issue was raised during a policy dialogue on “Strategic Synergies: Advancing the Cambodia–Japan Partnership in a Regional Context,” organised by the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies and the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh on Friday. The event gathered policymakers, practitioners and academics to examine how Cambodia and Japan can contribute to regional stability, economic resilience and multilateral governance, with ASEAN at the centre of the regional architecture. Dr. Kei Koga, Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, said Cambodia’s engagement with UNCLOS demonstrates its alignment with international law and contributes to efforts to maintain a rules‑based order. He noted that Japan’s vision of a Free and Open Indo‑Pacific emphasises strengthening countries’ capacity to uphold such principles, making Cambodia an important partner within ASEAN. Cambodia and Thailand held their first meeting under the UNCLOS conciliation process in Singapore on September 16, signing Terms of Appointment and finalising rules governing the proceedings. Further meetings are scheduled as the process continues. Cambodia has said its objective is a treaty establishing a single maritime boundary, or alternatively, an agreement on joint development and equitable sharing of resources in the overlapping area. Ambassador Pou Sothirak, Distinguished Senior Advisor to the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, described the first meeting as a positive step, saying the process could help both sides build confidence and negotiate their interests through a structured mechanism. Analysts note the overlapping area is believed to contain offshore energy resources, giving the dispute economic as well as legal significance. Cambodia has stressed that a peaceful settlement could create opportunities for resource development while protecting the interests of both countries. The dialogue underscored how international legal frameworks can strengthen confidence in peaceful dispute settlement and contribute to regional maritime stability.