Thailand scraps maritime agreement with Cambodia, turns to UNCLOS framework

Map shows the Cambodia-Thailand overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand. Arsana and Schofield

#National

Thailand’s cabinet yesterday approved the cancellation of a 2001 maritime agreement with Cambodia, shifting future negotiations on overlapping territorial claims to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The decision aligns with a proposal from Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who cited the need to update the negotiating framework to reflect current realities and to adhere to universally recognised international law, according to Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the prime minister’s office.

Ratchada emphasised that revoking the 2001 memorandum of understanding constitutes a “realignment” of the cooperative framework rather than a suspension of bilateral relations or dialogue.

Thailand will continue talks with Cambodia through UNCLOS mechanisms, which provide a clearer, more comprehensive, and systematic approach to resolving maritime disputes, she said in a statement.

The spokesman explained that the original 2001 agreement was intended to guide joint management of marine resources in the overlapping area. However, as no tangible progress has been made over the past two decades, a review was deemed necessary to ensure that future negotiations yield concrete results aligned with Thailand’s interests.

Ratchada said that Thailand remains committed to international law and is prepared to use UNCLOS processes, which require dialogue as the primary means of resolving overlapping claims between state parties.

Thailand has unofficially notified Cambodia of its decision and will proceed with formal notification while establishing technical and legal committees to manage operations under the new framework, she added. Xinhua

-Khmer Times-