Beijing Wants Cambodia, Thailand to Settle Border Dispute Through Existing Agreements

Terry Felix On June 27, 2026 - 9:05 am In Asia Pacific 1mn Read

PHNOM PENH, 27 June 2026 – China has expressed its support for a peaceful resolution of the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, urging both countries to settle their differences through existing bilateral agreements, according to a spokesman for Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

Speaking at a press conference on 27 June to brief reporters on Hun Sen’s recent visit to China, spokesman Chea Thyrith said the border issue was discussed during Hun Sen’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to Chea Thyrith, the Chinese side said it is closely monitoring developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border and hopes both countries will resolve their differences peacefully while respecting the agreements already in place between them.

He said China expressed its desire to see Cambodia and Thailand address the border issue through dialogue and peaceful means, rather than allowing tensions to escalate.

Cambodia has pursued several legal and diplomatic mechanisms to address its border disputes with Thailand under international law and the principle of peaceful dispute settlement.

For the land border, Cambodia has announced plans to refer disputed areas, including the Mom Bei area, Ta Moan Thom Temple and Ta Krabei Temple, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following recent border tensions.

For the maritime boundary, Cambodia has initiated compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after Thailand unilaterally withdrew from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding governing negotiations over the overlapping claims area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand.