Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on Cambodia’s Notification of Instituting Compulsory Conciliation Proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

วันที่นำเข้าข้อมูล 3 Jun 2026

วันที่ปรับปรุงข้อมูล 3 Jun 2026

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Thailand has consistently conveyed to Cambodia that its termination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2001) between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the area of their overlapping maritime claims to the continental shelf was necessary because it was no longer suited to the new context and therefore, it was the intention of the Thai side to initiate discussions anew which are not constrained by the bottlenecks of the previous approach, and which are based on international law and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which both countries are now party.
The Thai side also intended to advance toward a mutually beneficial path, while recognizing that resolving issues directly between neighboring countries is the best approach to achieving a constructive and mutually acceptable resolution.
However, Cambodia’s rushed decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS stands in stark contradition to calls consistently made by Cambodia itself for a restoration of bilateral relations and a revival of discussions within various frameworks, including issues related to the land border between the two countries. This should be taken into consideration as such a decision may have repercussions and cause efforts to rebuild trust and confidence towards restoring bilateral relations to falter or stall.
Thailand is fully prepared to undertake all necessary actions in accordance with UNCLOS, placing the utmost importance on safeguarding the country’s interests. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to meet with Thailand’s legal counsel to finalize Thailand’s list of conciliators and other preparations as anticipated by the Thai side.
Compulsory conciliation is one of the dispute settlement mechanisms provided for under UNCLOS. The outcome of the conciliation process takes the form of a report containing recommendations, which serves as a basis for the two parties to continue negotiations toward a mutually acceptable solution. Such report is not legally binding and the two parties must continue to discuss any outstanding issues directly among themselves.
The Thai public can rest assured that the Thai side is fully prepared to take the necessary actions and confident that it will be able to fully protect Thailand’s interests.
Finally, Thailand firmly rejects Cambodia’s unfounded allegations regarding encroachment and once again reaffirms the Thai side strictly adheres to the Joint Statement of the 3^rd Special Meeting of the GBC between Thailand and Cambodia on 27 December 2025, which both countries have agreed on, to support de-escalation, maintain peace and security, and ensure the safety of the people.

Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on Cambodia’s Notification of Instituting Compulsory Conciliation Proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on Cambodia’s Notification of Instituting Compulsory Conciliation Proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

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