Cambodia Proposes Three Options to Resolve Maritime Boundary Issue with Thailand, Seeks UNCLOS Commission Support

Cambodia has proposed three options to resolve its long-standing maritime boundary issue with Thailand, seeking assistance from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Conciliation Commission. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Prak Sokhonn, announced this on Wednesday evening upon his return from Singapore, where he attended the first meeting of the UNCLOS Conciliation Commission involving both nations. H.E. Prak Sokhonn explained that the initiative to launch the conciliation process aims to establish a mechanism to replace the previous framework for resolving maritime boundary issues between Cambodia and Thailand, which was established under the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2001). Thailand unilaterally terminated this MOU on May 5, 2026, leaving both countries without a bilateral mechanism to peacefully and legally resolve their maritime boundary dispute. According to H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia presented three possible approaches to resolving the issue: The first option is to seek an agreement or treaty establishing a single and comprehensive maritime boundary between the two countries, based on international law and with the support of the Conciliation Commission. Cambodia has proposed using the experience of Timor-Leste and Australia as a possible model for such an arrangement, which would provide a clear framework for both nations. The second option is joint development if the two sides cannot immediately agree on a maritime boundary. Under this approach, Cambodia and Thailand would cooperate in developing offshore resources and share the benefits fairly, particularly concerning the exploitation of seabed resources, in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. The third option is for the Conciliation Commission to prepare a report on the overall conciliation process and provide recommendations if neither a maritime boundary agreement nor a joint-development arrangement can be reached. Cambodia would then use these recommendations as a basis for further negotiations with Thailand, aiming for an equitable solution consistent with their obligations as States Parties to UNCLOS. The UNCLOS Conciliation Commission is scheduled to hold its second meeting with Cambodia and Thailand in The Hague, Netherlands, in October, with further meetings to follow as the conciliation process continues.