Cambodia Pursues Peaceful Maritime Boundary Settlement with Thailand via UNCLOS Conciliation

Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving its maritime boundary dispute with Thailand peacefully and in accordance with international law, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn said today. Speaking as Cambodia’s Agent at the first meeting of the Conciliation Commission established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) between Cambodia and Thailand in Singapore, H.E. Prak Sokhonn explained the reasons behind Cambodia’s decision to initiate the compulsory conciliation process. He said Cambodia’s deep understanding of the value of peace, shaped by decades of conflict and its devastating human and economic consequences, underpins its commitment to resolving the maritime boundary issue through peaceful means. Cambodia and Thailand began discussions on their maritime boundary in April 1995. In 2001, the two countries concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning their overlapping claims to the continental shelf, reflecting their shared intention to reach agreement on the maritime boundary and jointly develop resources for mutual benefit. However, despite efforts to negotiate, the two sides have yet to reach agreement on either a maritime boundary or a joint development treaty, leaving the resources beneath the undelimited waters unexplored. H.E. Prak Sokhonn said Thailand publicly announced on May 5, 2026 its unilateral cancellation of the 2001 MoU, despite Cambodia’s repeated calls for the agreement to be honoured. In response, Cambodia carefully considered the peaceful options available under international law and chose to initiate compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS. The Cambodian Agent stressed that the proceedings are intended to provide a peaceful pathway toward a fair and lasting settlement and should be viewed as a means of rebuilding trust rather than escalating tensions. He cited Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s remarks when Cambodia initiated the proceedings on June 2, 2026, that a peaceful settlement guided by international experts and international law would serve the interests of both countries by protecting sovereignty, strengthening confidence, unlocking energy resources, supporting development and creating employment opportunities for future generations. H.E. Prak Sokhonn expressed Cambodia’s sincere hope that Thailand would engage constructively in the conciliation process while working to improve bilateral relations through the full and effective implementation of existing bilateral agreements, particularly the Joint Statement of Dec. 27, 2025. He said such efforts would help facilitate the return of more than 20,000 displaced villagers to their homes, support the preservation of important cultural sites damaged during the fighting, and contribute to the normalisation of bilateral relations. Restoring peace and stability between Cambodia and Thailand, he added, would benefit not only the peoples of the two neighbouring countries but also the broader ASEAN Community. By C. Nika