Cambodia Lodges Strong Protest Over Thai Military’s Construction Activities in Cambodian Territory
Cambodia Lodges Strong Protest Over Thai Military’s Construction Activities in Cambodian Territory
PHNOM PENH, 27 August 2026 — The Royal Government of Cambodia has formally lodged another strong protest against what it described as Thailand’s continued violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
According to a press release issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Thursday, Thai armed forces dispatched heavy machinery into Cambodian territory on 22 and 24 August 2026 to construct an earthen trench in the Chouk Krous area of Thmar Daun village, Kork Morn Commune, Banteay Ampil District, Oddar Meanchey Province.
The Cambodian government said the activities took place in connection with the unauthorised visit of the Prime Minister of Thailand to the An Seh area of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Province on 23 August 2026.
Cambodia strongly protested the activities, stating that they constitute violations of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as defined and delimited by the 1:200,000-scale maps produced by the Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as Article 5 of the 14 June 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Item I on de-escalation measures of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on 27 December 2025.
The Royal Government reiterated that it does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand, stressing that the recent activities would not prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or position concerning its international boundary.
Cambodia has also demanded that Thailand cease such actions in the areas concerned, as well as in other areas it says have been unlawfully occupied by Thai armed forces since last year, with the aim of de-escalating tensions, building mutual trust and facilitating a peaceful settlement of disputes.
The Cambodian government reaffirmed that it remains committed to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand exclusively through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while maintaining its position that international borders must not be changed by force.
