AKP Phnom Penh, July 20, 2026 —  Cambodia has rejected Thailand’s claim that its decision to pursue compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has halted negotiations on the Cambodia-Thailand land border, stressing that the maritime and land boundary issues are governed by separate legal frameworks and bilateral mechanisms.

In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation responded to recent remarks by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who claimed that Cambodia’s recourse to UNCLOS had “closed the door” to land border talks.

The spokesperson described the claim as “simply not true,” explaining that Cambodia’s UNCLOS proceedings concern only the maritime boundary and have no bearing on land border demarcation.

“UNCLOS is itself an agreed and peaceful means for resolving maritime disputes,” the statement said, adding that its use should reassure, rather than concern, a neighbour committed to the rule of international law.

The Ministry stressed that the UNCLOS process cannot credibly be used as grounds for suspending land boundary demarcation through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which was agreed under the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and reaffirmed in the Dec. 27, 2025 ceasefire agreement.

The statement also noted that Thailand had previously signalled its own intention to rely on UNCLOS to resolve maritime issues, while pointing out that it was Thailand that had unilaterally withdrawn from the agreed bilateral framework for maritime negotiations despite Cambodia’s request that it not do so.

Cambodia called on Thailand to stop creating pretexts for delaying the land boundary demarcation process and to return in good faith to implementing the commitments already agreed under the 2000 MOU and the 2025 ceasefire.

“There is no reason whatsoever, whether legal or practical, for further delaying progress on the land boundary demarcation by the JBC in parallel with the maritime process under UNCLOS,” the Ministry stated.

The spokesperson also noted that Cambodia’s position has received international support, citing a resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) on July 11, which reaffirmed support for Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, called for de-escalation, and backed the resumption of the JBC’s demarcation work.

The statement further called on Thailand to respect the 1962 and 2013 judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear, as well as the delimitation of the land boundary in accordance with the 1904 and 1907 treaties, as reaffirmed in the 2000 MOU.

The Ministry concluded that indefinitely delaying the demarcation process in order to render permanent and annex unlawfully occupied Cambodian territories would constitute a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter.

By C. Nika