Cambodia Briefs AOT on Border Demarcation With Thailand
Cambodia Briefs AOT on Border Demarcation With Thailand
SIEM REAP, 28 July 2026 — Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving border issues with Thailand through peaceful means and in accordance with international law during a briefing for the Philippine-led ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia (AOT-KH), the Ministry of National Defence said.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the ministry said the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) facilitated the participation of the ASEAN Observer Team–Cambodia (AOT-KH), led by Commodore Glenn Z. Dizon, in a briefing on the progress of Cambodia-Thailand border demarcation and the emplacement of boundary pillars.
The presentation was delivered by Promsoeun Wattanak, head of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Survey Team under the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, in Siem Reap province.
According to the ministry, the briefing aimed to demonstrate Cambodia’s consistent position that border disputes should be resolved peacefully through international law, existing bilateral mechanisms, valid conventions and treaties, bilateral agreements, and the mandate of the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).
During the session, representatives from the State Secretariat of Border Affairs told the observer team that joint survey work and the placement of temporary boundary markers had stalled following the special JBC meeting in Chanthaburi on Oct. 22, 2025.
According to the Cambodian side, survey activities at Chouk Chey Village, Prey Chan Village, and along boundary segments between markers 52 and 59 were disrupted after what it described as attacks and aggressive actions by Thai armed forces, which Cambodia said resulted in continued illegal occupation of territory despite repeated diplomatic protests.
The representative also said Cambodia continues to urge Thailand to dispatch the two countries’ Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to resume survey work and the installation of temporary boundary markers, while calling for the early convening of the Cambodia-Thailand JBC and related technical meetings.
The ministry said these requests are based on commitments contained in the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) dated Dec. 27, 2025, and the agreed minutes of the special JBC meeting held in Chanthaburi on Oct. 22, 2025. According to the statement, both sides had agreed to accelerate border survey and demarcation work as a priority to promote long-term peace along the frontier and enable displaced Cambodian civilians to return to their homes safely and with dignity.
The ministry reiterated that Cambodia maintains what it described as a firm position in safeguarding the internationally recognized boundary inherited from the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, in accordance with international law, the principle of uti possidetis juris, the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, the 2003 Terms of Reference, and other bilateral agreements.
The statement said Cambodia rejects any alteration of the international boundary resulting from the use of force or what it described as illegal occupation and annexation through the creation of a fait accompli on the ground. It added that Cambodia will continue to lodge formal diplomatic protests against what it considers unilateral actions and violations of its territorial integrity by Thailand.
The press release reflects the Cambodian government’s position. Thai authorities had not responded to the specific allegations contained in the statement at the time of its release.
