BANGKOK — Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement late Sunday refuting Cambodian media reports that disputed border areas were part of recent bilateral boundary commission discussions in Phnom Penh.
The clarification came after the 6th Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting between Thailand and Cambodia concluded on June 15. Cambodia’s Ministry of Border Affairs later issued a statement saying Cambodia had proposed submitting four disputed areas to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The statement said both sides would adhere to legal documents and the 1:200,000 scale map agreed upon in the 2000 MOU, following the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese treaties for border demarcation.
Thailand Refutes Cambodian Claims
“There has been widespread misunderstanding,” Thailand’s Foreign Ministry stated, emphasizing that the JBC meeting held June 14-15 in Phnom Penh “did not discuss Cambodia’s proposal to bring the four disputed areas to the ICJ for consideration, nor was there any discussion of the 1:200,000 Siam-Indochina Commission map as claimed by Cambodia.”
The disputed areas include Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Touch, and Ta Krabei territories along the Thai-Cambodian border.
According to Khmer Times, Cambodian Minister Lam Chea had reportedly told his Thai counterpart that Cambodia proposed jointly submitting the border disputes to the ICJ, while reaffirming Cambodia’s right to initiate legal procedures unilaterally if Thailand continues rejecting ICJ jurisdiction.
Thai Official Account Differs
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry initially described the meeting as proceeding “smoothly in a cordial setting,” with both co-chairs expressing mutual appreciation as discussions concluded successfully. The ministry emphasized the JBC’s importance as a bilateral mechanism for addressing border challenges along the approximately 800-kilometer frontier.
However, in Thailand’s latest statement, the ministry also stated that “Thailand expresses deep disappointment that Cambodia still refuses to cooperate with Thailand in resolving specific issues and reducing mutual tensions, but continues to push forward with bringing the four disputed areas to the ICJ, which reflects Cambodia’s lack of genuine intention to use the existing bilateral mechanisms based on good neighborly relations.”
Despite the tensions, Thailand confirmed it will host the next special JBC meeting in September 2025.
Former Minister Proposes Intensified Response
Former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, now a Pheu Thai Party MP, recommended four additional measures to strengthen Thailand’s position:
- Briefing foreign diplomatic missions in Thailand on the border dispute
- Having Thai UN representatives engage with Security Council members
- Establishing a legal working group to monitor Thailand-Cambodia issues
- Intensifying communication efforts to match Cambodian information campaigns
“The government’s direction of adhering to bilateral negotiations under the MOU framework and rejecting ICJ jurisdiction is clear, but operational intensity must be increased,” Noppadon stated.
Energy Security Concerns
Separately, Thailand’s National Security Council called an urgent meeting for June 16 to assess potential impacts after Cambodia’s Prime Minister announced plans to generate electricity and internet services independently rather than purchasing from Thailand.
The three-tier cooperation mechanism between Thailand and Cambodia includes the JBC for technical issues, the General Border Committee for defense matters, and Regional Border Committees for local military coordination.
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