Cambodia Again Urges Resumption of Joint Border Demarcation

Terry Felix On February 24, 2026 - 1:14 pm In Asia Pacific 2mn Read

PHNOM PENH, Feb 24, 2026 — Cambodia has proposed a series of joint border surveys and high-level meetings with Thailand in early March, while formally protesting what it described as illegal incursions and occupation activities by Thai forces along disputed boundary areas.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Border Affairs said the Cambodian side of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) had sent a new diplomatic note to its Thai counterpart proposing that Joint Survey Teams resume work between March 1–7 and March 8–15.

The proposal includes the emplacement of temporary boundary markers between several agreed boundary pillars in Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat provinces, as well as the replacement of 15 boundary pillars previously agreed upon by both sides.

Cambodia also called for meetings of the bilateral Operational Group and Joint Technical Sub-Commission in the first week of March, followed by a special JBC meeting in the second week.

In the note, Cambodia lodged a strong protest against what it described as Thai military activities inside Cambodian territory, including the use of drones, installation of barbed wire and shipping containers, planting of Thai flags, road construction, canal digging and alleged destruction of civilian property.

The statement said such actions violate international law, the U.N. Charter, the ASEAN Charter and prior bilateral agreements, including the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and agreed minutes of previous JBC meetings.

Cambodia reaffirmed its position that the international boundary must be respected as inherited from historical Franco-Siamese treaties and delimitation commissions, invoking the principle of uti possidetis juris, which upholds the inviolability of established frontiers.

Phnom Penh said it would not recognize any alteration of the boundary resulting from the use of force and reiterated its readiness to resume technical demarcation work to achieve lasting peace along the border.

Thailand has not immediately responded to the latest proposal.

Tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors have intensified in recent months despite a ceasefire reached in late December.