Phnom Penh insists UNCLOS separate from land talks

Cambodia has firmly rejected suggestions from Bangkok that its use of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has derailed land border talks with Thailand.

In a statement issued yesterday, Phnom Penh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said maritime and land boundaries are governed by separate legal frameworks and bilateral mechanisms. It dismissed remarks by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who claimed the UNCLOS process had “closed the door” on land negotiations, as inaccurate.

Officials stressed that UNCLOS is a recognised, peaceful tool for resolving maritime disputes and should not be used as a pretext to stall progress on land demarcation. They pointed out that Thailand itself had previously signalled an intention to rely on UNCLOS for its own maritime claims, and reminded Bangkok that it was Thailand, not Cambodia, which withdrew from earlier bilateral maritime talks.

The ministry urged Thailand to return to good‑faith implementation of existing agreements, including the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and the December 2025 ceasefire. It also cited obligations under the 1904 and 1907 treaties and International Court of Justice rulings in 1962 and 2013 concerning the Preah Vihear Temple.

Cambodia warned that delaying demarcation to maintain control over contested areas would breach UN and ASEAN charters. Its position has drawn international attention, with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie passing a resolution on 11 July supporting the resumption of Joint Boundary Commission work.

The dispute underscores the fragile balance between maritime and land negotiations in Southeast Asia, where overlapping claims often complicate diplomacy. For now, Phnom Penh insists the two tracks must remain separate — and that land talks should not be held hostage to maritime disagreements.

-2026-07-21