Press Briefing by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson: Update on the Development of the Situation between Cambodia and Thailand, 31 January 2026
Press Briefing by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson: Update on the Development of the Situation between Cambodia and Thailand, 31 January 2026
Samdech, Royal Highness, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning!
During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) Retreat in Cebu, Philippines, on 29th Jan 2026, His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhon briefed the Meeting on latest developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border, including follow-up actions to implement the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC) on 27 December 2025 which established the second Ceasefire. He began by expressing Cambodia’s deep appreciation to Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair in 2025, for facilitating the ceasefire and supporting efforts towards a peaceful resolution. He also thanked ASEAN Member States for their steadfast support for the ceasefire, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and for contributing personnel to the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
He informed ASEAN colleagues that the GBC Meeting also produced arrangements and agreements on de-escalation measures and concrete steps toward the peaceful resolution of the situation in accordance with international laws and existing treaties and agreement between the two countries. He added that both sides agreed that all arrangements under the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special GBC Meeting are without prejudice to the border demarcation and the international boundary between the two countries. Both countries further emphasized the critical importance of consolidating the second ceasefire of 27 December 2025 and ensuring lasting peace, security and stability along the border through open and direct communication, mutual trust, confidence-building measures, and coordinated efforts.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that despite positive progress since the ceasefire, there are still some activities that are not in line with the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special GBC Meeting, particularly with regard to respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such actions risk escalating tensions and undermining efforts to return to normalcy and restore peace. At the time of the Meeting, 9,635 Cambodia people from 2,448 families remained unable to return to their homes in safety and dignity arrangement both sides have committed to in the Joint Statement, as their homes are either inaccessible due to physical obstruction and security threats or have been dismantled or destroyed. As a result, they continue to live in makeshift displacement sites, and thousands of children remain unable to attend school. The Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn underlined that Cambodia has remained firmly and faithfully committed to upholding and implementing the Ceasefire and the Joint Statement in their entirety, in the sincere hope that it would not only bring an end to hostilities and restore calm and normalcy along the border, but also pave the way for just and lasting solutions, so that our two peoples may live side by side in peace, stability, and shared prosperity. He called upon his ASEAN colleagues to continue supporting the peaceful settlement of this dispute in accordance with international law, existing treaties and agreements, and the fundamental principle of the non-use of force against the territorial integrity of any state-so that peace and stability may prevail not only between Cambodia and Thailand, but throughout our entire region.
He concluded that “amid repeated and serious challenges to global governance and international law, the threat or use of force in relations between States is on the rise, with a growing risk that the notion that “might makes right could become normalised. As a region that values hard-earned peace as one of its most precious assets, ASEAN must not go down this path. This is about our community, our family and our future”.
Her Excellency Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, in her capacity as the ASEAN Chair, expressed her readiness to continue facilitating the full and effective implementation of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special GBC Meeting between Cambodia and Thailand of 27 December 2025, including assuming the role of Chair of the AOT from Malaysia.
The Spokesperson for the Royal Government of Cambodia would like to Re-emphasize that Cambodia maintains a firm position in safeguarding the Cambodia-Thailand international boundary as inherited from the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, in full respect of international law principles, the principle of intangibility of frontiers (Uti Possidetis Juris), the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, the maps, and the procès-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as all relevant agreements and documents mutually agreed upon by both parties. Cambodia will not recognize any alteration of the boundary line resulting from the use of force.
Thank you
