AKP Phnom Penh, December 08, 2025 -- Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has called on Thailand to demonstrate its claim as a peace-loving nation by refraining from the use of military force against Cambodian civilians and resolving border issues through peaceful mechanisms.

In a social media post this evening, Samdech Thipadei said that Thai leaders have repeatedly declared through the media and international fora that Thailand is a peace-loving country and respects international laws. 

Therefore, he continued, it is truly shocking to see the news published on Dec. 8, 2025, that Thailand’s 1st Army Area has announced it will use force to reclaim what it calls Thailand’s sovereign territory, including firing artillery and mobilising troops into Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, and several other locations along border areas of Banteay Meanchey. 

“If Thailand truly loves peace and values its land as Cambodia does, then the Thai government and military should adhere to peaceful settlement of border issues, using agreed mechanisms and currently being implemented by both sides,” he stressed.

Samdech Thipadei added that if Thailand truly respects international laws, it must not use military force to attack civilian villages under the pretext of reclaiming its sovereignty. Cambodia has always firmly upheld the principle of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries, but will not allow any country to violate its own sovereignty and territorial integrity either. "I have also heard Thai leaders declare the same stance," he said.

For this reason, he noted, both countries established the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), which has been working for more than 20 years based on legitimate documents inherited from the French colonial administration — in particular, the Procès Verbaux (official records) of the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam of 1908–1909, and the Commission of Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam of 1919–1920. 

Recently, in line with the spirit of agreement between the JBC of the two countries; both the Cambodian and Thai sides agreed to deploy joint survey teams to carry out survey and emplacement of temporary markers along the border segments between boundary pillars No. 42–47 in Banteay Meanchey province and No. 52–59 in Battambang province. 

According to the Cambodian Premier, this work has proceeded smoothly with good cooperation between the technical teams of both countries. As a result, the survey and emplacement of temporary markers between boundary pillars No. 52–59 in Battambang province is almost 100 percent complete, while the work between boundary pillars No. 42–47 has been progressing well, in accordance with technical procedures, treaties, conventions, agreements, and legitimate historical documents previously agreed upon by both sides. 

Therefore, when the 1st Army Area of Thailand declared it would use military force to resolve border issues between Cambodia and Thailand in the area near Banteay Meanchey province (Cambodia) and Sa Kaeo province (Thailand) — including the segments between boundary pillars No. 42–47, it is totally contrary to the spirit of a peaceful border settlement through demarcation in accordance with international laws. 

“I sincerely hope that the Thai side, which has always proclaimed itself a peace-loving country that respects international law, will continue to use peaceful and lawful means in conducting survey and demarcation of land boundary to determine the sovereignty of each country,” Samdech Thipadei said. “This is the simplest, most transparent and most just way, because Cambodia has no intention of violating the lawful sovereignty of any neighbouring country. Whatever the results of the survey may be, Cambodia will respect them. I hope that Thailand will have the sincerity to do the same.” 

By C. Nika