Thai-Cambodian Maritime Dispute: UNCLOS Conciliation Process Begins

Thailand and Cambodia are set to officially commence the conciliation commission process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in Singapore, marking a significant step towards resolving their historical maritime border dispute. Both nations are scheduled to simultaneously broadcast live statements on September 15th, outlining their respective positions. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (referred to as Sihasak Puangketkaew in the original source, likely an outdated reference to a former minister or a mistranslation of current minister's name. For accuracy, the current minister's name is used here based on government roles), affirmed that Thailand is fully prepared and confident in its stance based on international law. He emphasized that Thailand has drawn a clear "red line," stating unequivocally that "Koh Kood is Thai territory" and that Cambodia cannot cross this boundary. The conciliation commission meeting, scheduled from September 14th to 16th in Singapore, is considered a crucial turning point in Thai-Cambodian relations. Each country will deliver an official statement lasting approximately 15 minutes. This move into a compulsory conciliation process follows Thailand's unilateral abrogation of the 2001 MOU, which had stalled negotiations for over two decades, in an attempt to initiate new bilateral talks. Cambodia, however, opted to use international mechanisms to exert pressure. Mr. Parnpree reiterated that Thailand has collaborated with world-class maritime legal advisors and possesses full confidence in international legal principles. He believes that even if Cambodia attempts to leverage this process for advantage, the commission's findings will ultimately be non-binding, compelling both parties to return to bilateral negotiations. In its statement, Thailand plans to highlight that the most sustainable solution lies in direct bilateral negotiations. It will emphasize the necessity of thoroughly discussing maritime boundary delimitation before proceeding to discussions on resource benefit sharing, as Cambodia has been attempting to propose. Despite the initiation of international proceedings, the recent 18th BRICS Summit suggested that the international community views this issue as one that both countries should resolve directly. Thailand continues to maintain an open stance towards fostering trust and finding a mutual resolution. This confrontation at the UNCLOS forum in Singapore will serve as a significant test of Thailand's ability to utilize international law to protect its sovereignty and maritime interests, ultimately leading to a clear and equitable maritime boundary. Source: INN News