Reference is made to the press release issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on 9 September 2026 regarding the organization of the first meeting with the Conciliation Commission, which is scheduled to be held from 14 to 16 September 2026 at Singapore.

Thailand is fully prepared and stands ready to participate in this first meeting on the basis of international law. The Thai delegation will be led by H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his capacity as Agent, and Ambassador Songchai Chaipatiyut, in his capacity as Deputy Agent, together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies with the knowledge, experience, and specialized expertise, namely the Hydrographic Department and the Naval Operations Department, Royal Thai Navy, as well as the Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy.

For the first meeting, arrangements have been made for the opening statements of both Parties to be broadcast live on 15 September 2026, providing the public with an opportunity to be informed of the positions of each Party in the conciliation proceedings. In addition, the meeting will consider the adoption of the Rules of Procedure, which will establish the rules and framework for the Commission’s work and provide guidance for subsequent meetings and the conduct of the related proceedings.

As a State Party to UNCLOS, Thailand stands ready to cooperate fully with and support the work of the Conciliation Commission. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant agencies remain strongly committed to carrying out duties with utmost efforts and to the best of abilities in safeguarding Thailand’s national interests.

It is expected that the conciliation process will take around 12 months, after which the Conciliation Commission will issue its report, including its conclusions or recommendations, which are not binding upon the Parties.