Why Cambodia and Thailand’s Peace Is So Uneasy

Khmer Circle: 

 

'So what is Thailand actually up to?' Procrastinations, stalling tactics, breaching the terms of ceasefire agreements with Cambodia citing one excuse after another as to why it could not honour or engage those terms especially in regard to initiating border demarcation work within the agreed JBC framework, all in an attempt to buy more time for Thailand to turn its illegal land encroachments through force into forgotten fait accompli and hoping all the while that the world community will turn a blind eye to it all. If indeed, it has not already done so. 

 

^^^  

A step forward in the maritime dispute masks dangers on the land border.

By Joseph Rachman, the writer of Foreign Policy’s weekly Southeast Asia Brief.
 

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, left, shakes hands with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, right, during a live-streamed joint conference following a trilateral meeting between the top leaders of Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines on the Thai-Cambodia conflict, as part of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, in Cebu, Philippines, on May 7.


June 10, 2026, 12:01 AM


Cambodia-Thailand Arbitration Masks Danger

Six months after fighting ended between Cambodia and Thailand, their relationship remains dangerously unsettled.

On June 5, Thailand said it will join the United Nations arbitration process launched by Cambodia to resolve the two countries’ maritime boundary dispute. At the same time, though, Thailand announced that bilateral efforts to resolve its contested land borders with Cambodia would be put on hold. Peace talks on the land border look stalled, and small skirmishes have taken place along the border. A third round of fighting looks unlikely—but certainly not impossible.

The cease-fire remains in place, but as recently as May, Thailand accused Cambodian soldiers of firing shots along the border. Cambodia has accused Thailand of occupying areas it previously accepted as Cambodian territory. Thailand has kept the border closed despite the economic cost. Now Thailand has an excuse to abandon the border peace talks it has been slow-walking for months. Association of Southeast Asian Nations attempts to keep Thailand and Cambodia moving toward a peace deal seem to have flopped. And without change, the border dispute will remain a frozen conflict, not a solved one.

Meanwhile, what of the maritime boundary dispute now facing arbitration?

The process now being launched is the compulsory conciliation provision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). At stake is a stretch of water with an estimated $300 billion worth of energy resources under it, claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.

សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកបានផ្ដល់ជំនួយទឹកប្រាក់២៥ម៉ឺនដុល្លារ ដើម្បីបន្តជួសជុលប្រាសាទបុរាណភ្នំបាខែង

Khmer Sbai carved in stone

 

 

In 2025, archaeologists at Cambodia’s Angkor temple complex uncovered the torso of a sandstone Buddha statue dating to the 12th–13th century. The discovery proved especially remarkable because the torso perfectly matched a head found at the same site in 1927 and preserved in Cambodia’s National Museum for nearly 100 years. Using modern technology, researchers confirmed that the two pieces once formed a single statue, allowing one of the finest surviving examples of Khmer art to be reunited after almost a century apart. 

ផែនការអត្តនោម័តិ និងល្បិចកលវាតទីរបស់ភាគីថៃ មកលើទឹកដីកម្ពុជា

Thai Scholar Warns Anutin Risks Another ICJ Defeat

BANGKOK, June 5, 2026 — Prominent Thai security and geopolitical analyst Surachart Bamrungsuk has warned that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent position on the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute could place Thailand at risk of repeating past legal setbacks before international courts.
In an article titled “Cambodia’s Trap! Is Anutin Leading Thailand Toward Another Defeat at the International Court?”, published on June 1, Surachart cautioned that Thailand should be careful not to undermine legal principles that have previously shaped rulings against Bangkok in territorial disputes.

The warning followed remarks made by Anutin on May 27, when the Thai prime minister stated that Thailand would only recognize the 1:50,000-scale map in border discussions and that if Cambodia continued to rely on the 1:200,000-scale map, there would be no need for further talks.

According to Surachart, the statement immediately raised concerns among Thai academics and policy analysts, who warned that such a position could expose Thailand to legal vulnerabilities under international law.

He argued that previous rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), particularly in the Preah Vihear Temple case, were not determined solely by map scales but by broader legal principles, including treaty obligations, state conduct and historical acceptance of boundary documents.

The Cartographic Temper Tantrum: Anutin’s Post-Paris Panic and Thailand's Lawless Diplomacy

Opinion | Cambodia Insights
Guest Writer: Panhavuth LONG, Lawyer, PAN & Associates Law Firm 
06:12 PM, June 3, 2026

 

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – When Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul departed for Paris, his stated mission carried a veneer of statesmanship: he was traveling to seek historical clarity from French archives regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border. It was framed as a confident, fact-finding endeavor. Yet, upon his return on May 29, 2026, the Prime Minister delivered not facts, but a glaring diplomatic retreat. Abruptly, he declared that the internationally recognized 1:200,000-scale colonial map long cited by Cambodia "no longer exists" for Bangkok.

This sudden, erratic pivot is not a demonstration of sovereign strength. It is an exposure of an administration struggling to reconcile its political ambitions with binding treaties, begging a question that reverberates through diplomatic corridors: What exactly did Anutin learn in France that forced such a hasty retreat from historical evidence?

Imperial Archives and Inconvenient Truths

In the realm of international law and statecraft, a leader cannot unilaterally erase a map simply because it fails to serve political convenience. The Annex I map is not merely a dusty colonial artifact; it is the foundational document validated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its landmark 1962 Preah Vihear ruling. If the Prime Minister genuinely sought "clarification" from President Emmanuel Macron and French authorities, the archives almost certainly offered an inconvenient truth: the historical record is immutable. France cannot, and legally would not, retroactively alter early 20th-century treaties to accommodate modern Thai political objectives. Realizing that the French archives would only reinforce the legitimacy of the very maps Thailand wishes to contest, Anutin chose to abandon the legal framework rather than engage with the rules of international jurisprudence. A state does not ask a question on the global stage if it is unprepared to handle the answer. To inquire, and then immediately declare the subject non-existent when the answer proves unfavorable, is a departure from established diplomatic norms.

Anutin Says the 1:200,000 Scale No Longer Counts. Surachart Bamrungsuk Tells Him the 2000 Treaty Names No Scale at All.

 

In hindsight colonial France should have demanded more than those returned three Khmer provinces to Cambodia. This episode only serves to remind all Khmers and their ruling administration alike that making land concessions to the Thais "in exchange for peace" only invites further Thai encroachments and no guarantee of lasting peace.

-Social media 

 

Midnight / 1 Jun 2026 / 4 min read

 

Anutin Charnvirakul told Thai media on 27 May, on the sidelines of a trade exhibition at Impact Muang Thong Thani, that the 1:200,000-scale Franco-Siamese map Cambodia cites for its border claims no longer counts for his government, and that any party meaning to rely on that scale need not come to the table at all. He told The Nation the older scale “no longer exists” for Thailand, while allowing that his government would accept transparent technical verification of the line.

The scale Anutin set aside is not the term on which the governing instruments turn. The Memorandum of Understanding the two governments signed on 14 June 2000, and which Thailand registered with the United Nations in 2011, commits them in its first article to survey and demarcate the land boundary in accordance with the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention, the 1907 Treaty and its annexed delimitation Protocol, and the maps that resulted from the Commissions of Delimitation. The article lists those documents and fixes no scale. That framework is still running: under its Joint Boundary Commission the two sides have located most of the 73 colonial-era markers, leaving the contested segments where the present argument sits.

Losing in Court, Thailand's Military Throws a Tantrum at the Border

 

 

CAMBODIA/THAILAND BORDER – At 9:45 a.m. on June 2, 2026, Thai military forces encroached on Cambodian territory, according to video evidence obtained by this correspondent. The footage documents repeated incursions, marking the latest provocation in a escalating border crisis. Cambodia has vowed to defend its territorial sovereignty against all aggression.

The timing is telling. Thailand is reeling from legal and diplomatic defeats. And for observers of Thai-Cambodian border affairs, the June 2 incident follows a damning pattern: Bangkok signs a peace accord, then swiftly engineers a fresh confrontation.

Since the July 2025 ceasefire, Thailand has repeatedly leveled landmine accusations against Cambodia – each time, notably, immediately after a peace deal was sealed. A ceasefire was brokered on July 28, 2025, following clashes near Preah Vihear. Just twelve days later, Bangkok alleged three soldiers were injured by a mine. Cambodian verification later exposed that Thai troops had crossed the ceasefire line. On October 26, another peace agreement was inked. Fifteen days later, Thailand again reported a mine strike and blamed Phnom Penh, prompting Prime Minister Anutin to suspend the accord. The June 2 provocation is not an anomaly – it is the modus operandi.

Cambodia initiates action with UN agency to force conciliation of maritime dispute with Thailand

 

 

by: SOPHENG CHEANG, Associated Press

Posted: Jun 2, 2026 / 08:38 AM EDT

Updated: Jun 2, 2026 / 08:38 AM EDT


PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s government has filed notice under a U.N. agreement on maritime law for compulsory conciliation of a sea border dispute with neighboring Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Tuesday.

At issue is territory claimed by both that is believed to contain large, exploitable amounts of natural gas and other hydrocarbons.

The decision to take the matter to the the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, comes after Thailand last month terminated a 25-year-old memorandum of understanding with Cambodia meant to resolve overlapping maritime claims.

Thailand unilaterally revoked the agreement in May after relations between the countries worsened last year after major armed clashes over their land border.

Last year’s fighting with Cambodia spurred nationalistic fervor, putting political pressure on Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to abrogate the pact.

In a live broadcast on TVK state television, Hun Manet said that his government had delivered formal notice to Thailand and to the U.N. secretary-general to begin compulsory conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS rules.

“Cambodia has never violated the sovereignty of other states,” he said.

“At the same time, we are unwaveringly determined to defend Cambodia’s sovereignty. Today, we continue to honor that responsibility, not through force, but through international law; not through unilateral action, but through peaceful engagement.”

Cambodia launches UN-backed process to settle maritime dispute with Thailand

By Reuters
June 2, 20265:11 AM GMT+1Updated June 2, 2026

 

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is interviewed by Reuters during a visit to Washington to take part in the first meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

    Summary

    Cambodia invokes UN conciliation process after Thailand ended 2001 maritime pact
    Disputed maritime area estimated to hold $300 billion in oil and gas resources
    Thailand has 21 days to appoint conciliators under UN process, Cambodia says

 

BANGKOK, June 2 (Reuters) - Cambodia said on Tuesday it had launched a compulsory conciliation process under international law aimed at resolving a ‌long-running maritime boundary dispute with Thailand and had informed the United Nations and Bangkok.

The move follows a Thai government decision last month to unilaterally terminate a 2001 agreement with Cambodia that provided a framework for negotiations over the disputed area in the Gulf of Thailand where the two countries' maritime ​claims overlap.

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"We have taken this step to protect Cambodia's sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law," ​Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who made the cancellation of the 2001 ⁠pact part of his February election campaign, said he was not aware that Cambodia had initiated the conciliation process.

"Thailand has ​not yet determined when it will proceed further," he told reporters.

BREAKING: Cambodia Formally Notifies Thailand, UN to Initiate UNCLOS Compulsory Conciliation Process

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, June 2, 2026 — Cambodia has formally notified Thailand and the United Nations of its decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Prime Minister Hun Manet announced on Tuesday.

 

The move follows Thailand's unilateral decision to terminate the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that had served as a framework for discussions on overlapping maritime claims between the two countries.

 

According to Hun Manet, the Royal Government of Cambodia has issued an official notification to both the Thai government and the United Nations to begin the process of compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS, marking a significant step in the long-running maritime dispute between the neighboring countries.

 

The compulsory conciliation mechanism is a dispute-settlement procedure provided under UNCLOS that allows parties to seek an independent review and recommendations from a conciliation commission when negotiations fail to produce an agreement. While the commission's recommendations are not legally binding, the process is recognized as a formal international legal avenue for resolving maritime disputes.

 

Cambodian officials have repeatedly stated their preference for resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law. In recent weeks, senior Cambodian leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, have emphasized the importance of legal and diplomatic mechanisms in addressing outstanding issues with Thailand.

 

The latest development comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries over both land and maritime boundary issues. Cambodia has maintained that international legal frameworks should guide dispute resolution, while Thailand has advocated continued bilateral discussions.

 

No immediate response was issued by Thai authorities following Hun Manet's announcement.

The initiation of the UNCLOS mechanism is expected to open a new chapter in efforts to address overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, shifting part of the dispute from bilateral negotiations toward an internationally recognized legal process.

A 1908 Treaty Document Holds Against Anutin's 1:200,000 Erasure

 

 

 

On 27 May 2026, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the Thaifex Anuga Asia 2026 exhibition in Bangkok that the 1:200,000 scale "no longer exists" for Thailand's administration. He said Thailand uses 1:50,000 maps in specified sectors and asked UNESCO to hear Thailand before publishing any heritage assessment. The Thai-language Naewna report carried an additional clause translated as: if Cambodia still uses the 1:200,000 scale, they "do not need to come and talk to Thailand."

 

On 26 October 2025, Anutin had told Nation Thailand that Thailand had never accepted the 1:200,000 map and that LiDAR survey would render the older instrument obsolete.

 

On 25 May 2026, Anutin met President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Both sides announced they would advance the France-Thailand 2026-2028 Joint Action Plan toward strategic partnership.

The 1:200,000 Annex I map was prepared in Paris by French officers under the 1904 Franco-Siamese Boundary Convention. A Mixed Commission with Siamese members worked the demarcation 1904-1907. In 1908, fifty sets were allocated to the Siamese Government from a full distribution of approximately one hundred and sixty sets. The ICJ in 1962 found Thailand bound to the map through acceptance. The 2013 interpretation judgment reaffirmed the Annex I line.

OP-ED: The Clown Poses as the Crown: Anutin Is the Real Sick Man of Asia — Goes to France, Rejects French Map

It is worth bearing in mind that Thailand currently occupies Cambodian territory well beyond even its unilaterally drawn map. Thai claims over technicalities are no more than smokescreens and diversions from their activities on the ground; much like their recent bombardments of ancient temple sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Krobey and then justifying these attacks on the pretext that the sites were being used as military 'bunkers' by Cambodia! To add insult to injury Thailand's FM Sihasak recently told the Unesco envoy of his 'sadness' over the damages to the temples which Thai military attacked twice in the last two rounds of fighting! 

 

If Thailand indeed had legitimate case relating to which version of the map would offer more accuracy or justice then by all means take its grievances to appropriate independent international tribunals or courts. That the Thais have consistently eschewed those channels and peaceful means of settling disagreements with Cambodia speaks volumes of their actual contempt for civilised rules of engagement and international law and order. 

 

-Social media

 

 

 

 

THAILAND – In a development reported today by The Nation Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has officially declared that Thailand will no longer recognize the 1/200,000-scale French colonial maps that have long served as the legal foundation for border demarcation with Cambodia. The announcement follows his recent diplomatic visit to France, where he met with President Emmanuel Macron.

 

According to The Nation, Anutin now insists that Thailand will use its own self-produced 1/50,000-scale maps, declaring that the colonial-era 1/200,000-scale maps — the very standard Cambodia relies upon under international law — "no longer exist" for Thailand.

 

The contradiction is unmistakable. On May 25, Anutin told President Macron that Thailand would "strictly adhere" to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the maritime dispute with Cambodia. Yet one day later, he rejects the very French colonial cartography that underpins the land border treaties.

 

What Thailand fails to acknowledge is that Cambodia had already cleared the UNCLOS path weeks earlier. On May 12, Samdech Techo Hun Sen directed the Royal Government to invoke compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS after Thailand withdrew from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding on maritime claims. Cambodia ratified UNCLOS in February 2024. Thailand is only now following Cambodia's lead on the sea — while abandoning international law on land.

Cambodia says Thai actions at border temples breach international law

 

– Cambodia has accused Thailand of violating international law and illegally occupying several ancient temple sites along their disputed border, in a diplomatic briefing attended by foreign envoys in Phnom Penh.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Thursday’s session was attended by representatives from 44 diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited to Cambodia.

 

Culture and Fine Arts Minister Phoeurng Sackona outlined Cambodia’s position on contested sites including the Tamone temple complexes, Ta Krabey Temple and Khnar Temple. She reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty claims, saying Thai armed forces have occupied the sites since December 2025.

 

The minister also cited damage to the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other monuments of “outstanding universal value.”

 

According to the ministry, Thailand has carried out activities aimed at asserting sovereignty over the sites, including religious ceremonies, visits by cabinet members, restoration works without Cambodian approval, and listing the temples in its national heritage inventory.

 

Cambodia further alleged that permanent structures, including large Buddha statues, had been installed at some locations.

 

Phnom Penh said it has lodged repeated diplomatic protests and vowed to continue opposing what it described as unlawful actions intended to create “a fait accompli on the ground.”

 

Sackona stressed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving border disputes peacefully, in line with international law and bilateral agreements, adding that maintaining stability between the two neighbours was vital for ASEAN unity.

-------------

By: Minea Son

 

Legal precedents on international boundary disputes

ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃធំបំផុតរបស់កម្ពុជា - Cambodia's biggest wildlife sanctuary

កុំជឿជាក់ពេកថៃកុំអួតពេកគេមិនទាន់ប្រើអោយអស់ពីសម្ថភាពទេ

 

Reform, develop and modernise. Without reforms there cannot be development and modernisation as institutional corruption siphons off state resources from national spheres including defence into private pockets and corrupt, incompetent officials mismanage public affairs, including military officials appointed through bribes or nepotism rather than actual experience and knowledge earned through battles. 

Take a former KR military commander named Y Chean who had had his military training in China and shown his credentials during his defence of the pivotal KR stronghold of Pailin which none of Hun Sen's men had been able to breach after several attempts. He was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Interior where he probably still remains as Hun Sen more than likely perceives him as a threat. 

-Social media 

 

បានកើតមកជាកូនខ្មែរដូចជាមិនស្រួលសោះ...

Former Thai Foreign Minister Urges Talks; Cambodian Academic Says Troops Must Withdraw First

 

There's a reason why the Thais are shy of peaceful resolutions through internationally recognised binding treaties and legal procedures. Wasn't Piromya himself serving as Thailand's FM under Vijjajiva between 2008 and 2011 when Thailand also attacked Cambodia? New faces, same treacheries? They would rather cower themselves under the cloak of diplomacy - even via third parties like China or Bangladesh - when under attack from Iran or Myanmar... than deploying their mighty F-16s. 

Cloak and dagger tactic? 

-Social media 

 

 

PHNOM PENH – May 18, 2026 – A Cambodian researcher has responded to a suggestion from former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul should urgently fly to Cambodia for border negotiations, stating that no flight is necessary — Thai troops must simply withdraw from Cambodian territory.

 

Dr. Kin Phea, a researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, offered his perspective in response to Kasit's proposal, emphasizing that actions speak louder than diplomatic gestures.

 

"There is no need to fly here," Dr. Kin Phea wrote. "Just have Thai soldiers remove their containers and barbed wire from Cambodian soil, and restore the border situation to how it was before May 2025. Then urgently resume the work of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) without delay — everything will return to normal."

 

Dr. Kin Phea further stated that Cambodia has never sought to create border conflicts with any neighboring country, and that Cambodia consistently adheres to the principle of resolving issues peacefully based on diplomatic mechanisms and international law.

 

The former Thai foreign minister's call for urgent talks comes amid ongoing border tensions between the two neighboring nations. No official response has been issued by the Thai government regarding the proposal.

 

Photo/Source: Dr. Kin Phea, Researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, May 18, 2026.

 

Cambodia Reiterates Firm Stance Against Unilateral Thai Maps

 

 

— Cambodia has reaffirmed its rejection of unilateral Thai maps in the border dispute, stressing its commitment to protecting the internationally recognised frontier and pressing for renewed joint demarcation efforts.

 

Government spokesman Pen Bona said Tuesday Phnom Penh maintains a firm position in safeguarding the boundary established by the Franco‑Siamese Boundary Commission, in line with international law and the principle of uti possidetis juris, which upholds borders at independence.

 

He stressed Cambodia does not recognise any modification imposed by force.

 

The Defence Ministry reiterated that survey and demarcation work falls solely under the authority of the Joint Boundary Commission, rejecting “any alteration” that contradicts Franco‑Siamese treaties, official maps or bilateral agreements, including the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding.

 

Cambodia urged Thailand to resume joint survey operations and convene a new JBC meeting.

Ministry of Interior said more than 620,000 displaced residents — about 95 percent of those uprooted by last year’s tensions — have returned home, though over 31,000 remain unable to do so.

 

Schools and health facilities in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces are still closed, underscoring the need for stability along the frontier.

-------------

By: Minea Son

©KPT English

See less

The deeper layer behind "Sihasak rejects Cambodia media claim Thailand agreed to UNCLOS compulsory conciliation"

 

Sihasak's posturing, bullying rhetoric and arrogance more than anything else perfectly encapsulate the Gang of Three - i.e. Palace, Government, Army or Four if one includes their media mouthpieces and Thailand's cyber army of trolls online! - and their dealings vis a vis Cambodia since their initiated attacks last year. 

Envisage a situation where a man violently raped a girl next door (his neighbour's wife or daughter) at her most vulnerable moment. After the deed he held a knife at her, threatening to kill her and her family members and take more of her properties such as house, lands etc. unless she kept her silence about her ordeal. He also added for good effect that it was moreover in her interest and honour as a girl/woman to keep it between him and her! 

Well, that is exactly what this Gang of Three are treating Cambodia at this moment. That’s what the term ‘bilateral’ really means to the Thais and in reality even though they have just unilaterally torn up the MOU with Cambodia which was the only practical bilateral framework or mechanism on offer for resolving overlapping maritime boundary claims!

-Social media 

 

 

 

After the Thai Cabinet terminated the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 44), Cambodia began shifting the maritime dispute from a stalled bilateral framework into the more structured arena of international maritime law by announcing its move toward UNCLOS compulsory conciliation.

During a trilateral sideline meeting facilitated by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand reportedly acknowledged Cambodia’s position to pursue compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding overlapping maritime claims, according to a high-ranking official.

However, on 11 May 2026, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow rejected Cambodian media reports claiming that Thailand had already agreed to UNCLOS compulsory conciliation. The response also appeared intended to counter Cambodian media narratives, such as Fresh News and Khmer Times, etc.

Beyond Cambodian media, Khaosod English also reported on 6 May that Prime Minister Anutin confirmed a move toward a common legal framework after Cambodian leader Hun Manet announced plans to use compulsory conciliation.

Notably, Foreign Minister Sihasak used very careful wording. He did not state in absolute terms that Thailand would never enter UNCLOS compulsory conciliation with Cambodia. Instead, he attempted to reposition Thailand as the actor controlling the diplomatic process by emphasizing that “the process must begin with sincere bilateral talks.”

Prak Sokhonn Holds Talks With Senior US Diplomat on Thailand Border Issue

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 13, 2026 — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn held telephone talks with senior United States diplomat Allison Hooker on Tuesday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and advancing peaceful efforts to resolve the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute.

 

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, both sides welcomed the continued positive momentum in Cambodia-U.S. relations and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The discussions covered defence, security and joint efforts to combat transnational crime, the ministry said.

 

Prak Sokhonn also expressed appreciation for United States support for the Cambodia-Thailand peace process and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to implementing key agreements reached following border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.

 

Those agreements include the ceasefire agreement signed on July 28, 2025, the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of Oct. 26, 2025, and the Joint Statement issued after the third Special General Border Committee meeting on Dec. 27, 2025.

 

The Cambodian foreign minister also stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.

 

The talks reflected continued diplomatic engagement between Phnom Penh and Washington as Cambodia seeks broader international support for regional stability and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms.

WITHOUT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, THERE WILL BE NO KHMER SOLIDARITY

 

 

Opinion by Anonymous 

 

Khmer people should stop crying and complaining about Hun Sen. They have to fight for social justice. The first step is fighting for free and fair elections by peacefully marching in 2027 to demand that the government free all political prisoners, reform the National Election Committee (NEC), and reinstate the CNRP. If Khmer people are afraid to do this peaceful demonstration, they must stop crying and continuing to live under this ignorant Hun Sen's foot.

Khmer people must select a JUST CAUSE and THE RIGHT TIME to fight.

How to transfer the power peacefully and successfully in Cambodia?

Hun Sen was installed by Vietnam to execute the Vietnamization of Cambodia policy. Hun Sen never hesitated to do whatever was necessary to please his master Vietnam and maintain his grip on power.
 

Many Khmer people have lamented that we cannot win through a general election. This has been true when we have allowed Hun Sen to do whatever he wanted.

For example, in 2017, we allowed Hun Sen to dissolve the CNRP without facing any consequences
To overcome this major obstacle, we must pick a just cause and the right time to fight for.

Notice that the commune election will be held in 2027 and the general election in 2028.

We should take the following steps to achieve our goal.

In early 2027, the Khmer people should stage a peaceful demonstration to demand the release of all political prisoners, NEC reforms, and the reinstatement of the CNRP.

AOT Under Philippines Leadership Launches First Mission at Preah Vihear

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 14, 2026 — An ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) began its first border monitoring mission at Preah Vihear Temple on Thursday as Cambodia reiterated its commitment to implementing ceasefire agreements and restoring stability along the Cambodia-Thailand frontier.

According to a statement issued by Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, the mission marked the first deployment of the Head of Mission of the ASEAN Observer Team under the Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN.

The Cambodian Liaison Group facilitated the visit at around 8:40 a.m., with the team tasked with observing, verifying and reporting on the border situation around Preah Vihear Temple in Choam Ksan district.

The mission also aims to assess recent developments in the area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site, which Cambodia said suffered severe damage during military attacks by Thai forces in 2025.

Cambodian authorities said the observer team's role in monitoring implementation of the ceasefire was intended to improve transparency, accountability and mutual trust between Cambodia and Thailand.

The statement said the initiative was aimed at supporting a return to normal conditions and promoting long-term peace, stability and security along the border.

Cambodia also expressed support for strengthening the observer team’s role and mandate in future peace efforts.

The Royal Government and Ministry of National Defence reaffirmed what they described as a firm commitment to fully implementing the Joint Statement of the third Special General Border Committee meeting signed on Dec. 27, 2025, the Cambodia-Thailand Peace Agreement signed on Oct. 26, 2025, and other related agreements.

Officials said the measures were intended to accelerate recovery and restore security and stability for communities living along the border areas of both countries.

Sambor Prei Kuk: Older Than Angkor Wat - But Not For the Reasons You Think!

The Diving Game and the "Talk and Take" Strategy: The Reality Behind the Veil of Friendship and Cambodia’s Legal Readiness

  

Opinion | Cambodia Insights
Guest Writer: Panhavuth LONG, Lawyer, PAN & Associates Law Firm 
4:06 PM, May 12, 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CI) – In the chess game of regional geopolitics, nothing happens by chance. The return of Thaksin Shinawatra and the exploitation of the "brotherhood" bond, occurring exactly when the Bangkok government faces internal economic pressures and mounting tensions over the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU44), is not merely a matter of sentiment. It is a sharp, calculated strategy that demands Cambodia to analyze the situation with pragmatism, independence, and an absolute readiness in the realm of international law. Although the "diving game" metaphor suggests that Cambodia currently holds the upper hand and a longer breath than its counterpart, we must not forget a fundamental law of politics: "A cornered beast always reacts most dangerously."

1. The "Friendship" Card and the Danger of a Cornered State
When a country faces a severe economic crisis and urgently needs energy resources from the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA), it may resort to any strategy necessary. Using personal relationships and calling for peaceful negotiations is merely the initial "soft power" maneuver. If this persuasion fails to sway the firm stance of Cambodia’s leadership, the other side is likely to shift its strategy toward economic pressure, border provocations, or unilateral legal interpretations.

2. Brotherhood Bond vs. National Ideals: Cambodia Puts Sovereignty First
In the realm of politics and diplomacy, personal sentiments or a "brotherhood bond" can only serve as a lubricant to ease the atmosphere of communication; they can never replace or stand above national ideals. Any attempt to leverage private affection as a tool for psychological coercion in determining a nation's destiny is a gross underestimation of the other state's will and sovereignty. For Cambodia, the choice is clear and irreversible: regardless of how valuable a personal friendship may be, Cambodia will always choose to stand firmly on the principle of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity first and foremost. National interests, legal authority, and the survival of a sovereign state are not commodities to be traded at the negotiation table under the pressure of the word "brotherhood."

Phnom Penh Calls Thai Temple Registration ‘Illegal and Baseless’

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 13, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has strongly protested Thailand’s decision to register several ancient temple sites along the disputed border in Thailand’s national register of monuments, calling the move illegal and a violation of Cambodian sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry rejected Thailand’s registration of the Tamone Temple Complex, Ta Krabey Temple, K’Nar Temple and other archaeological sites that Cambodia says are situated within its sovereign territory.

The ministry said the unilateral action was “illegal, null, and without legal effect,” adding that such registration could not serve as evidence of territorial sovereignty or border delimitation.

Cambodia stressed that border demarcation issues between the two countries must be resolved in accordance with international law, including the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty and existing bilateral mechanisms such as the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, the 2003 Terms of Reference and the Joint Boundary Commission process.

The ministry described Thailand’s registration effort as an unlawful attempt to create “an artificial legal appearance” over cultural sites located in Cambodian territory.

“This action constitutes a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermines the spirit of peaceful dialogue and mutual respect between the two countries,” the statement said.

The Cambodian government called on Thailand to immediately withdraw the registration and refrain from further unilateral actions that could undermine efforts toward a peaceful settlement of border issues.

Cambodia also reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all outstanding disputes peacefully and in full respect of international law and bilateral mechanisms.

The statement comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over border and maritime disputes in recent weeks.

Reassessing Ancient Cambodia: Live Presentation from the Quest for Ancient Civilizations Conference

Rare Dolphin Family Spotted in Cambodia’s Kampot Marine Conservation Area

 

KAMPOT, May 10, 2026 — A rare family of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins has been spotted in protected coastal waters in Cambodia’s Kampot province, in what conservationists say is another positive sign of improving marine biodiversity.

Drone footage captured the dolphins swimming together in the waters of the Prek Tnaot fishing community, showing two adult dolphins gently touching snouts while a juvenile circled nearby, according to local conservation officials.

Researchers identified the animals as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, a species considered vulnerable in many parts of Asia due to habitat loss, pollution and fishing activity.
Officials said the sighting reflected the strong social bonds and peaceful behaviour of the dolphins within a protected marine conservation area.

Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration, under the Ministry of Agriculture, has been working with Marine Conservation Cambodia and local authorities to strengthen marine conservation efforts along the country’s coastline.
As part of the programme, authorities have deployed artificial reef structures made from stone blocks across several conservation zones to create habitats for marine biodiversity.

Conservation officials said the artificial reef initiative, launched in 2023, has contributed to increasing fish stocks and marine species populations while supporting sustainable fisheries for local communities.

Marine researchers have in recent months also reported growing numbers of vulnerable marine species, including seahorses, in Cambodia’s coastal waters, which they say indicates improving ecosystem stability in protected areas. 

Cambodians struggle with displaced lives amid tense ceasefire with Thailand

 

Families displaced by recent border war fear renewed clashes with Thailand, say their children’s education among areas most affected by conflict.

 

Kam Pin holds her daughter and sits on a hammock outside her tent in the internal displacement camp at Preah Vihear province's Wat Bak Kam on April 10, 2026 [Roun Ry/Al Jazeera]
 

 

By Danielle Keeton-Olsen, Roun Ry
Published On 9 May 20269 May 2026

Preah Vihear/Siem Reap provinces – When asked how she spends her day, 11-year-old Sokna rattled off a list of chores.

She first fetches water, then washes dishes and sweeps the leaves and dust from around the blue tarpaulin tent her family now calls home, in the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda in northwestern Cambodia.

Sokna and her sister have stopped attending school, their mother Puth Reen said, since moving to this camp for people displaced by the recent rounds of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia.

The two sisters are among more than 34,440 people who remain in displacement camps in Cambodia – 11,355 of whom are children – as of this month, according to the country’s Ministry of Interior.

“I tried to tell them to go to school, but they don’t go,” Puth Reen told Al Jazeera, explaining how precarious life had become since returning to live in Cambodia after fleeing neighbouring Thailand, where she had worked for many years, as the fighting started.

ការឆ្លើយតបទៅកាន់ ព័ត៌មានសៀម នឹង បុគ្គលពា/ល

 

How this obnoxious person currently becomes the national icon of Thailand and its attacks against Cambodia is beyond me. His actions in the course of the border conflict reveal the ugliest, most reprehensible face of Thai ultra-nationalism, not least the use of raw sewage (or the intent to do so) and the playing on loud speakers of high pitch sounds directed at Khmer villagers including the elderly, pregnant women and minors. I would say that your ability to communicate directly to Thai audience in their language is one of your greatest weapons in this war through defence of truth. 

I would encourage you and others as well as the Cambodian government to also target the ethnic Khmers or Khmer-speaking population in Thailand by relaying online messages to them directly. The Cambodian government should set up a specialist unit whose mission is dedicated to enlisting and galvanising the hearts and minds of these Khmer brothers and sisters in Thailand. If the Thais have managed to win them over to their side despite not sharing the same bloodline or ancestry then the possibility to win them over to the side of their actual mother land and brothers and sisters should be a much more realisable aim. Winning them over to Cambodia's side would represent half the battle won. 

-Social media 

 

Cambodia Could Overtake Thailand Economically and Demographically Within 75 Years, Expert Says

 

 

 

— Cambodia could surpass Thailand in both economic output and population size within the next 75 years if it adopts effective long term policies, according to Casey Barnett, a former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia. 

 

He warned that without decisive reforms, the country’s demographic and economic advantages could erode.

 

Barnett noted Cambodia has consistently recorded stronger growth than Thailand over the past decade, with GDP expanding by an average of 5.5% annually from 2015 to 2025, compared with about 2% in Thailand.

 

In 2025 alone, Cambodia’s economy grew by at least 4.8%, while Thailand managed only 2.1%. Fertility rates also point to a demographic edge, with Cambodia at 2.5 births per woman compared with 1.2 in Thailand.

 

To sustain momentum, Barnett proposed extending maternity leave, offering childcare vouchers, expanding health coverage to include fertility treatments, and providing $3,000 incentives for couples having a third or fourth child.

 

He cautioned against military conscription, saying it could weaken GDP growth, and urged attracting overseas Cambodians and foreign professionals through long term visas and residency incentives.

Barnett said financing could come from stronger property tax collection, noting Cambodia’s current rate is far below international standards. He stressed that adopting such measures would allow Cambodia to protect labor productivity, strengthen family support, and position itself to eventually close the gap with Thailand.

--------------

By: In Sopheng

©KPT English

Hun Manet Announces UNCLOS Action Following Thai Withdrawal

 

 

BREAKING: Hun Manet Announces UNCLOS Action Following Thai Withdrawal

 

 

PHNOM PENH, May 5, 2026 — Cambodia has decided to pursue compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve its maritime dispute with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday, after Bangkok unilaterally withdrew from a long-standing bilateral agreement.

 

In a statement posted on his official social media page, Hun Manet said the move followed Thailand’s decision to exit the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU2001), which for more than two decades had served as the sole bilateral framework for managing overlapping maritime claims between the two countries.

 

The Cambodian leader described the withdrawal as a setback to cooperation, noting the MoU had reflected “mutual goodwill” and provided a foundation for peaceful dialogue.

 

“With the unilateral withdrawal, Cambodia is left with no choice but to rely on international law,” he said, adding that Phnom Penh would turn to mechanisms under UNCLOS, particularly compulsory conciliation, to seek a resolution.

 

Hun Manet stressed that the process is designed to facilitate peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, expressing hope it would lead to a “just and lasting solution” that ensures stability and harmony between the two nations.

 

The development marks a significant shift from bilateral engagement to an international legal pathway in addressing the long-running maritime dispute. Thai authorities have not yet publicly responded to Cambodia’s latest move.

Cambodia to pursue compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS if Thailand revokes MoU

National
04 May, 2026Raksmey Hong

ppp 

 

 

Foreign ministry secretary of state Kung Phoak Cambodia has expressed Cambodia’s ‘deep disappointment’ over Bangkok’s planned unilateral withdrawal from a 2001 maritime MoU. AKP
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Cambodia has announced its intention to pursue a compulsory conciliation mechanism under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), should Thailand proceed with plans to revoke the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding, a senior foreign affairs official has said, signalling a shift from bilateral negotiations to international legal channels.

In a special interview broadcast on state-run Television of Cambodia (TVK) on May 3, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kung Phoak expressed “deep disappointment” over reports that Bangkok is preparing to unilaterally terminate the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 2001).

He explained that the framework has underpinned maritime negotiations between the two countries for more than two decades.

“We are very disappointed that the Thai side is considering unilaterally withdrawing from the MOU 2001,” he said, describing the agreement as “the only bilateral framework that both parties have relied upon for more than two decades” to manage overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand.

វីដេអូដ៏គួរឱ្យក្នាញ់នៃកូនផ្សោតកើតថ្មីអាយុប្រមាណ៣-៤ថ្ងៃ

Cambodia Says It Will Keep Raising Border Issues Until Violations Stop

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, April 30 — Cambodia has defended its continued public statements on border tensions with Thailand, saying they are necessary to address alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement and to protect national sovereignty.

 

Responding to suggestions that both sides should avoid rhetoric that could hinder relations, Prak Sokhonn said Thai military actions on the ground remain the core issue.

 

He said that since the ceasefire agreement reached on Dec. 27, 2025, Thai forces have continued to occupy areas inside Cambodian territory and have restricted local residents from returning to their homes.

Sokhonn added that some locations were reportedly blocked, preventing access to villages, which they said contradicts commitments made under the joint statement of the General Border Committee.

 

He said Phnom Penh has raised the issue through diplomatic channels, including official statements and engagements at international forums.

 

Prak Sokhonn stressed that Cambodia had exercised restraint to preserve the ceasefire and pursue peaceful solutions, but said it could not remain silent on matters affecting territorial integrity and the rights of its citizens.

 

Cambodia said it would continue to speak out unless the alleged actions cease, reiterating its commitment to resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements.

 

If a larger country can simply decide a smaller neighbor’s border no longer exists, is any country truly safe?…

 

All these Western embassies in Phnom Penh must be fully aware of what is happening and yet are apparently turning the other way for some reasons? Even countries within ASEAN are effectively in hiding. The likes of Singapore were once most vociferous in protesting Vietnam's invasion and occupation of Cambodia but today where are they? 

This is about more than the leadership of Cambodia or whether this leadership is palatable to the world community or not; more than whether Thailand is occupying a few hectares of Cambodian territory or several km squares. It's about a most basic, fundamental principle governing a peaceful, civilised world being grossly violated in broad daylight. This is an unashamed reversion to feudal times when Siam was terrorising Cambodia and other weaker nations at will and without punitive repercussions. 

 -Social media 

 

 

Cambodia deports more than 600 Thais linked to cyberscams: minister

AFP
Thu, April 30, 2026 at 12:49 PM GMT+1
2 min read

  

A general view shows the Poipet International border checkpoint between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025 (TANG CHHIN Sothy)
(TANG CHHIN Sothy/AFP/AFP)

Cambodia deported more than 600 Thais allegedly involved in online scams on Thursday, the information minister said, part of a crackdown against the multibillion-dollar illicit industry that has ballooned in the country in recent years.

Cambodia has emerged as a hub for crime syndicates running fake romantic relationship and cryptocurrency investment schemes in which scammers -- some willing, others trafficked -- defraud internet users around the world.

Operated out of hotels, casinos and fortified compounds around the region, the global cyberscam industry has reached "industrial proportions", with estimates of its annual revenues as high as $64 billion, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra told AFP "635 Thai nationals involved in illegal online business operations and transnational criminal networks were deported to Thailand" through a border checkpoint on Thursday.

Leader of Cambodia's defunct opposition loses appeal against treason conviction, lawyer says

By Reuters

April 30, 20265:28 AM GMT+1Updated 14 hours ago

  

Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha greets as he leaves the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh, Cambodia January 16, 2020. REUTERS/Samrang Pring/ File Photo 

    Summary

    Kem Sokha gets additional 5-year travel ban added to 27-year term
    Crackdown wipes out Cambodia's opposition, ruling CPP uncontested
    Western embassies disappointed, urge Cambodia to create space for opposition

PHNOM PENH, April 30 (Reuters) - A Cambodian appeals court on ​Thursday upheld a 27-year sentence for former opposition leader Kem Sokha for his treason ‌conviction, his lawyer said, another blow to an opposition decimated by the ruling party's long-running crackdown.

Kem Sokha, 72, co-founder of the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been held under house arrest since he was found guilty of treason in March 2023. ​He was accused of conspiring with a foreign power to topple then-premier Hun Sen.

The court upheld ​that verdict and banned Kem Sokha from leaving Cambodia for five years once his ⁠term ends, his lawyer said.

"We regret this decision," Pheng Heng told reporters. "Under this circumstance, the government ruled ​by the Cambodian People's Party should seek national reconciliation and today's decision is not as expected."

Kem Sokha's case ​was among the most prominent in a sweeping crackdown on opponents of the CPP, which has ruled the Southeast Asian country for more than four decades. The United States said at the time that his conviction was based on "fabricated conspiracy theories".

China–Cambodia 2+2 Dialogue Is a Strategic Turning Point

 

On April 22, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (2nd R) and Defence Minister Tea Seiha (R), together with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) and China's Defence Minister Dong Jun (L), co-chaired the First Meeting of the “2+2” Strategic Dialogue between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of National Defence of Cambodia and China, in Phnom Penh. Photo: MFA 

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun visited Cambodia for the first "2+2" strategic dialogue, meeting top leaders including Acting Head of State Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

On April 22, China and Cambodia inaugurated their first "2+2" Strategic Dialogue in Phnom Penh. The meeting involved foreign and defense ministers and aimed to deepen political and security ties and bilateral cooperation. 

There are reports that this framework may expand to a "3+3" structure, adding interior ministers from both countries. This would signify deeper, more institutionalized cooperation between China and Cambodia.

Through this new diplomatic initiative, China is demonstrating an intention to expand its engagement with Cambodia beyond economic issues, shifting toward a partnership also focused on political and security collaboration.

FM Wang Yi told reporters that China is willing to develop the mechanism into a “strategic platform” for enhancing political and defense security cooperation. 

He described the 2+2 strategic engagement with Cambodia as a key instrument for cementing mutual assistance and solidarity and advancing the construction of a China-Cambodia “community with a shared future”.