CHANTABURI — 27 June 2026, A parliamentary security committee has inspected the construction of a Thai-Cambodian border fence in Chanthaburi, where officials said the project is now 45% complete and clarified concerns over so-called “gaps” in the structure.
The House committee on national security, border affairs and national reform, led by chairman Monthian Songpracha, visited the site in Pong Nam Ron district, where construction of the fence is underway along the Thailand–Cambodia border.
Officials from the Chanthaburi Marine Task Force said Thailand is not acting unilaterally and that Cambodian representatives have been invited to observe all stages of construction to ensure transparency and compliance with international procedures.
They also confirmed that all border checkpoints in the area are fully closed in line with government and Royal Thai Navy policy.
The fence project is funded by the Hathaitip Fund and constructed by the Army Development Command. The first phase covers a 1.3-kilometre stretch between boundary markers 52 and 54, an area agreed under the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), with progress currently at 45%.
The second phase will extend from markers 54 to 59, covering approximately 7 kilometres, with road construction already underway to support future installation of security infrastructure. The total planned length is 8.3 kilometres.
The fence design consists of a 1.95-metre concrete wall topped with barbed wire, with a total height of 4.3 metres.
Officials addressed public criticism over visible gaps in certain sections, explaining that the structure at boundary marker 52 dates back to the French colonial-era agreement and is considered shared by both Thailand and Cambodia.
They said the temporary gap is due to ongoing JBC procedures and will later be fitted with a hinged panel system to allow joint inspection by both sides. Authorities insisted no permanent opening will remain once construction is complete.
Officials also dismissed claims that boundary markers had been removed, saying images circulating online were edited.
During the inspection, lawmakers also questioned a road running parallel to the fence on the Cambodian side. Military officials said the road was built by Cambodia using its own budget and lies about three metres from the Thai fence line.
The committee later visited the so-called “K. Kai” area in Ban Phakkat, a natural boundary zone surrounded by Khlong Takhian canal. Officials said the area was affected in 2020 when about three rai of land was cut off, potentially impacting the boundary line if left unresolved.
Thai border defence forces had previously lodged a protest, alleging the change was man-made rather than natural, while Cambodia maintained it was a natural shift in the waterway.
Officials said Thai military and local communities have since worked together to restore the area by filling in the canal using more than 200 truckloads of soil, reconnecting the land and raising the Thai flag in the area.
A total of around 15 kilometres of access roads have also been built in the K. Kai and U-shaped zones, funded through public contributions. Authorities said future upgrades to asphalt roads would require government budget allocation, but no agency has yet been assigned responsibility.
Lawmakers said they will coordinate with relevant agencies to secure funding and ensure the community-built roads are not left unused.
Officials reiterated that the military has carried out its duties responsibly in cooperation with all sectors and that border management continues under established agreements.