Resolving border issues based on international law and the primacy of peace
Resolving border issues based on international law and the primacy of peace
As gunfire along the Cambodia–Thailand border has fallen silent, a sense of calm has returned.
However, for a country that has just experienced the devastation of war and endured the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, this “calm” does not signify rest. It is a “new battleground”, fought through the legal principles, timing, evidence, and international mechanisms.
How does the Royal Government of Cambodia protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity?
The Royal Government of Cambodia’s response is clear and resolute. Cambodia has chosen peace and peaceful settlement under international law to address this sensitive border issue, but not peace at the expense of sovereignty.
As Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen stated on 7 January 2026:
“Cambodia will not make concessions on its sovereignty or national dignity.”
Peace is not a slogan, but a binding document with enforceable obligations
The cornerstone of resolving the border dispute with Thailand is the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), dated 27 December 2025. This is not a symbolic declaration; it is a “binding political and security framework” with de-escalation measures and a verification mechanism.
Under the Joint Statement, both sides agreed to a ceasefire effective at 12:00 noon on 27 December 2025, prohibiting all forms of violence and the use of any weapons, including attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Furthermore, both sides also committed to maintaining troop positions at their current locations and refraining from further deployments. Crucially, the term “current positions” in the GBC document does not constitute recognition of sovereignty nor confer legal ownership; it is a temporary measure intended solely to halt bloodshed and reduce tensions.
This accurate record does not result in any loss of Cambodian territory, as the GBC clearly states that all measures adopted “shall not affect” border demarcation or the international boundary, and mandates the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume technical survey and demarcation work “as expeditiously as possible”.
Humanitarian priority: Refugees must return home with “dignity”
Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has clearly stressed that accepting a ceasefire does not equate to trading sovereignty for peace. This is why the Royal Government considers the return of displaced people, the restoration of their livelihoods, and the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure its top priority.
The GBC bilateral document explicitly permits civilians affected by the border situation to return home and resume normal life “safely and with dignity.” However, as of January 6, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed concern that “tens of thousands” of Cambodian displaced persons remain unable to return due to continued “military presence” and activities affecting civilian infrastructures.
The key to ending disputes peacefully is ensuring that “actions on the ground” align with “commitments on paper”— not merely a well-written document to be signed and left unimplemented.
Although the nation is facing a difficult time in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the strong spirit of solidarity and national unity among the Khmer people—and between the Royal Government and the people—has coalesced into a single force—transforming national pain into a sincere patriotic resolve that strengthens national unity in all directions.
In addition, Samdech Thipadei has reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to upholding peace as the foremost priority.
The Royal Government fully understands the hardships and challenges faced by our compatriots, especially affected citizens, and will continue to employ all available means—particularly diplomacy and international law—to safeguard Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to resolve the Cambodia-Thailand border issues in accordance with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement of 26 October and the Joint Declaration of 27 December 2025.
Borders are Defined by Law and Maps—Not by Thai Flags or Force
It must be clearly understood that violence on the ground cannot generate legal title or justify violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Acts such as planting flags, dismantling homes, laying barbed wire, erecting containers, constructing trenches, or clearing land—while instilling fear and preventing the return of Cambodian civilians—cannot be transformed into lawful sovereignty for Thailand.
The Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), dated 27 December 2025, explicitly states that the ceasefire and de-escalation measures do not affect the demarcation of the border and the international boundary between the two countries.
This is not an emotional interpretation, but the application of binding international law and principles that signatories are obliged to respect and comply with, without resorting to excuses for non-compliance.
In this regard, Cambodia has reaffirmed that it “does not recognise any alteration of borders resulting from the use of force”, invoking the fundamental doctrine of uti possidetis juris, a cornerstone principle preventing border modification by force.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reaffirmed the irrefutable documentary basis underpinning the internationally recognised boundary, namely the 1907 treaty, maps produced pursuant to the 1904 convention, and the ongoing surveying and demarcation work between boundary pillars 52-59 and 42-47.
Accordingly, the key to safeguarding Cambodia’s territorial integrity is the Joint Declaration adopted at the 3rd Special GBC Meeting, which clearly states that any agreements adopted under it do not affect border demarcation. This means that ceasefire and de-escalation measures merely create a safe and transparent environment for surveying and demarcation to proceed; they do not redraw the border nor recognise occupation by force.
JBC: Disputed Areas Must Be Settled Through Technical Processes and Evidence
To understand the Royal Government of Cambodia’s mandate to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, one must examine the work of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC). Press releases from the State Secretariat of Border Affairs indicate that Cambodia has consistently sought to convene special JBC meetings to discuss border surveying and demarcation, and to address ground-level activities affecting civilians.
Although the meeting scheduled for the first week of January 2026 and Cambodia’s second request were postponed at the request of the Thai side, Cambodia responded promptly with a diplomatic note dated 13 January 2026, marking its third official request to Thailand.
If Cambodia intended to “relinquish” territory, it would not insist on advancing the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) mechanism or presenting detailed surveying and demarcation data down to specific boundary pillars. On the contrary, Cambodia—having chosen peace without concessions— is the one that seeks to have technical processes, evidence, maps, and official records determine the final outcome, not the use of weapons or the planting of flags.
AOT and Verification—Peace Requires Transparency
Lasting peace cannot rely on assurances alone; it must have “eyes” for verification. Within this framework, the General Border Committee (GBC) recognised and agreed to strengthen the role of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) in verifying and ensuring the effective implementation of all agreed measures.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also clearly emphasized the need to strengthen the AOT mechanism to ensure that the ceasefire is fully, effectively, and continuously implemented, while also enhancing transparency, trust, and confidence-building between the two sides.
In this context, “peace” is no longer a political slogan, but a practical mechanism—combining ceasefire, maintenance of the status quo, and international verification—to enable the Joint Boundary Commission to carry out its technical tasks safely, transparently, and in accordance with international law.
Responding to extremist groups: Stop the divisive rhetoric
Certain extremist groups have sought to take advantage of the situation by accusing the government of “ceding territory,” even as the people and the government pursue lawful measures to halt the bloodshed and seek justice. However, official documents have already “provided a clear response” to such opportunistic claims:
- The GBC Joint Statement explicitly states that such agreements “do not affect border demarcation”;
- The State Secretariat of Border Affairs clearly states that it “does not recognise” outcomes resulting from the use of force and urges the JBC to proceed with its tasks; and
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reaffirms Cambodia’s commitment to peace in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, guided by AOT verification and JBC technical processes.
Such opportunistic accusations from extremist opposition groups abroad are driven by personal political agendas and do not reflect the national interest. Fortunately, the Cambodian people have demonstrated a far more sensible understanding than these misguided opposition groups.
Peace is paramount—sovereignty is an inalienable principle.
The process of resolving the border dispute is not an emotional sprint; it is a “marathon” that requires diplomatic discipline, legal evidence, technical mechanisms, and international verification. Cambodia seeks normal lives for its people, the safe and dignified return of displaced persons, and borders that become spaces for peace rather than battlefields.
Yet peace must rest on “firm principles” to ensure unwavering adherence, as Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has previously affirmed:
‘Cambodia will not make concessions on its sovereignty or national dignity.’
In this spirit, national unity and trust in the Royal Government serve as the strongest safeguards—ensuring that Cambodia prevails “not only on the battleground”, but also in the “legal arena”, with peace as the guiding priority and justice as the ultimate goal.
As stated by Samdech Thipadei Hun Menet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia:
” This is the moment when Cambodia must strengthen national solidarity and unity more than ever. With participation from all sectors and a deep sense of patriotism, our nation will overcome these challenges and rebuild with greater resilience and prosperity.”
By Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia
