Cambodia Proposes Reconciliation Process for Maritime Border Dispute with Thailand

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, has clarified Cambodia's objective in initiating a reconciliation process to establish a mechanism for resolving the maritime border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, following Thailand's unilateral abrogation of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Speaking to reporters at Techo International Airport on the evening of September 16, 2026, after returning from the first meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Conciliation Commission under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn stated that Thailand's unilateral voiding of the 2001 MOU has left Cambodia and Thailand without any mechanism to peacefully and legally resolve disputes concerning their borders, particularly the maritime boundary. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn further explained that Cambodia's desired goals were presented to the Conciliation Commission and the Thai delegation present at the meeting, offering three options according to each stage. Firstly, Cambodia will strive to find an agreement or treaty for a single and comprehensive maritime boundary demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand, modeled after Timor-Leste, with the support and facilitation of the Conciliation Commission and based on international law. Secondly, in cases where such an agreement cannot be reached, both parties will endeavor to find an agreement for joint development and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the exploitation of seabed resources, conducted in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. Thirdly, if neither the maritime boundary agreement nor the joint development agreement can be achieved, Cambodia will request the Conciliation Commission to prepare a report on the overall conciliation process and provide recommendations on the best means for both countries to find a resolution together. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn emphasized, "We will use these recommendations to continue negotiations for a fair resolution for both countries, in line with the obligations of Cambodia and Thailand as State Parties to the UNCLOS." The Conciliation Commission under UNCLOS will hold its second meeting with the Cambodian and Thai parties in The Hague, Netherlands, next month, with further meetings also scheduled. Source: AKP Khmer