Thailand has reassured the public that its participation in a United Nations-backed maritime arbitration process initiated by Cambodia does not involve negotiations on joint development or the sharing of offshore resources in the Gulf of Thailand. Get today's headlines by email Government spokesperson Ms. Rachada Thanadirek said on 7 June that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow had explained to both the public and ambassadors from more than 70 countries that the compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is separate from any proposal to establish a joint development zone or share resources. Cambodia launched the process after Thailand unilaterally cancelled Memorandum of Understanding 2544 (MOU44) last month. The agreement had provided a framework for border demarcation discussions and efforts towards joint offshore energy exploration between the two neighbouring countries. Thai officials stressed that joining the UNCLOS process does not mean Thailand accepts Cambodia’s claims or demands. According to the government, participation is intended to ensure transparent deliberations based on facts and legal principles through an international mechanism recognised by both countries. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said all steps would be taken carefully, with close coordination between foreign affairs and security agencies as well as international law experts to protect Thailand’s interests. The maritime dispute centres on an area of approximately 26,000 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand, claimed by both countries for more than 25 years. The area is estimated to contain nearly 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and large volumes of oil, with a total estimated value of USD 300 billion. Thailand will send two representatives to the UN-backed negotiations. However, Sihasak criticised Cambodia’s decision to include resource-sharing issues in the process, saying he had urged Cambodian counterparts to continue bilateral discussions for at least six months before pursuing international mechanisms. Sihasak also said Cambodia publicly announced its decision on 2 June before officially notifying Thailand. Cambodian officials rejected that claim, providing what they said were copies of an email and paper notification delivered on the same day. Reuters was unable to independently verify the documents. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said bilateral efforts had been exhausted and expressed hope that Thailand would engage in the process in good faith. Prime Minister Anutin later stated that Thailand would not pursue any additional bilateral talks with Cambodia, including discussions on land border issues. He said all border crossings would remain closed and that restoration of wider relations would not be discussed at this stage. Tensions between the two countries remain high following two rounds of border clashes last year that killed nearly 150 people and displaced at least 300,000 people, although a ceasefire agreed in December remains in effect. Sihasak warned that Cambodia’s decision to pursue compulsory conciliation was unlikely to improve bilateral relations. He noted that East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, remains the only country to have successfully used the UNCLOS conciliation process to settle a maritime dispute, resolving a long-running disagreement with Australia in just under two years. The ThaiNewsRoom reported that further discussions under the UNCLOS framework are expected to begin as both sides prepare their representatives and legal positions. Thai officials say the process could take an uncertain amount of time compared with direct bilateral negotiations. Related stories Cambodia-launches-unclos-process-over-gulf-dispute Thai-panel-defends-Cambodia-mou-scraping-to-Asean Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Thai newsroom 9 June 2026
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