Prak Sokhonn Holds Emergency Briefing for Diplomats on UNCLOS Move
Prak Sokhonn Holds Emergency Briefing for Diplomats on UNCLOS Move
PHNOM PENH, June 2, 2026 — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn on Tuesday convened a meeting with foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations following Cambodia’s formal notification to Thailand and the United Nations to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The meeting took place hours after Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that Cambodia had officially informed both Bangkok and the United Nations of its decision to begin the UNCLOS compulsory conciliation process, a peaceful international legal mechanism designed to address unresolved maritime disputes.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the briefing was intended to update diplomatic missions and international partners on Cambodia’s decision and the legal framework governing the process.
UNCLOS, the international treaty governing maritime rights and responsibilities, provides several mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between state parties. Both Cambodia and Thailand are signatories to the convention.
Under the compulsory conciliation procedure, the parties are given an opportunity to present their respective positions before an independent conciliation commission composed of five members with expertise in international law. The commission reviews the claims and subsequently issues recommendations aimed at facilitating a mutually acceptable resolution.
Although the commission’s recommendations are not legally binding, the process is recognized as an internationally accepted mechanism for the peaceful management and resolution of maritime disputes.
Cambodian officials have repeatedly emphasized that the country’s approach is grounded in international law and peaceful dispute settlement. The latest move follows Thailand’s unilateral termination of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding that had previously served as a framework for discussions on overlapping maritime claims.
The Cambodian government has maintained that international legal mechanisms remain the most appropriate avenue for addressing outstanding maritime issues and ensuring a rules-based resolution.
No immediate reaction was reported from Thai authorities following Cambodia’s latest diplomatic initiative.
The commencement of the UNCLOS conciliation process marks a significant new phase in the maritime dispute between the two neighboring countries and is expected to attract close attention from regional and international observers in the coming months.
