Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

By the Director-General of Department of Information / MFA Spokesperson

On 12 June 2025 at 14.30 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / TikTok LIVE

Situation Updates: Developments on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation

• On 11 June 2025, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa gave a press conference about a preparatory meeting of the Thai side for the upcoming Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting. He conveyed three policy directives:

1. To reduce tensions in the area and enable the people on both sides of the border to live together peacefully;
2. To bring about positive developments and more clarity in the boundary line discussions to pave the way for sustainable solutions; and
3. Most importantly, to uphold the sovereignty of Thailand, without compromising its territorial integrity under any circumstances.
   
   

• Thailand wishes to reiterate that the Thai side is committed to bilateral mechanisms and cooperation to address tensions. This is indeed the most effective and appropriate way, and is in line with international norms and practices. That is, when two countries have different opinions, both parties are encouraged to engage through bilateral mechanisms and existing agreements to solve the problem. Naturally, because they are the main stakeholders in this equation.
  
  
• Thailand will leverage the existing bilateral mechanisms in negotiating with the Cambodian side in good faith, namely the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC). There is in addition another important document that has been already agreed upon by Thailand and Cambodia, which is the MOU on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary signed in 2000. This MOU provides a legal framework for the task as clearly stated by the title itself. Thailand sincerely hopes the Cambodian side will reciprocate by engaging with Thailand through these bilateral mechanisms as both sides have agreed.
  
  
• The JBC meeting is scheduled for 14 June 2025. Some information about the JBC mechanism is as follows:
  
  
• The JBC is the primary bilateral mechanism that deals with technical and legal issues related to the shared border. It has the aim to facilitate the survey and demarcation of land boundary. It is therefore designed to provide a specific forum for discussions on the border issues.
  
  
• The JBC consists of technical experts from various agencies specializing in international law and technical border issues. To date, it has convened 10 meetings, with the most recent held in Bangkok in 2012, and the upcoming is scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh in 2 days.
  
  
• One of the key provisions of the MOU 2000 is to facilitate the effective survey along the entire stretch of the common land boundary. Each side is not allowed to carry out any work resulting in changes to the environment of the frontier zones. Currently, the JBC’s operations under the MOU are still at initial stages, with a lot of workload ahead.
  
  
• The composition of the Commission of the Thai side was approved by the Cabinet on 29 November 2024. It comprises experts from various agencies with extensive knowledge and expertise on the matter. The Commission is chaired by Mr. Prasas Prasasvinitchai, former Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh and Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on border issues. Other members include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and relevant security agencies. On the Cambodian side, the Commission is chaired by Mr. Lam Chea, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs of Cambodia.
  
  
• Cambodia has stated its intention to involve ICJ. Thailand has never recognized compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ since 1960. Currently the majority of countries around the world do not recognize such jurisdiction. Thailand is one of 119 countries in this category. Hence, Thailand will address these issues through bilateral mechanisms, which has been the agreement with Cambodia from the beginning.
  
  
• We are confident that the Thai delegation going to participate at the upcoming JBC meeting this time, and whatever time or bilateral platforms in the future, will be well-equipped to perform their duties to the utmost of their abilities.
  
  
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to report on the progress and results of the JBC meeting to members of the media. This is necessary because there is currently a lot of misinformation in social media resulting in a lot of misunderstanding. The media is encouraged to share accurate information so as to ensure the correct understanding among the public.

1. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs attended the Final Casting Ceremony of the Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan – Bolikhamxay) (6 - 7 June 2025)
   
   

• On 6 June 2025, H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the Final Casting Ceremony of the Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan – Bolikhamxay), presided over by H.E. Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR.
  
  
• Both sides signed an agreement on the bridge’s ownership, usage, management, and maintenance.
  
  
• The Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge will enhance logistics, trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people connections. The Bridge is scheduled to be officially opened by the end of this year and will be another symbol of the strong friendship and cooperation between the two countries. It will also connect Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and China as part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The ceremony was part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Thai-Lao diplomatic relations.
  
  
• In 2024, border trade between Thailand and Lao PDR reached 775 billion baht, representing nearly 30 per cent of the total border trade.

2. Meeting of Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General 2025
   
   

• The Ministry is currently holding the 2025 Meeting of Ambassadors and Consuls-General from 8 to 14 June 2025 in Bangkok, under the theme “Proactive and People-Centred Diplomacy: From Policy to Practice.”
  
  
• The meetings aims to review strategic issues and brainstorm to develop concrete plans, such as an Action Plan for proactive diplomacy to drive the Thai economy and maintain national security, through seamless integration with Team Thailand agencies, especially at a time when the world is undergoing significant structural changes and international regulation. These developments have wide-ranging impacts on the region and directly affect Thailand, particularly in terms of geopolitical and geoeconomic competition, including subregional security issues.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16uqGfmucw/  

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