Cambodia demands halt to Thai unilateral border demarcation in Chouk Chey
Cambodia demands halt to Thai unilateral border demarcation in Chouk Chey
#National
Cambodia has lodged another formal protest against Thailand’s continued violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, this time in response to allegations that Thai officials and civilians carried out land surveying activities and installed boundary markers in Chouk Chey village of Banteay Meanchey province, an area Phnom Penh says remains subject to bilateral border demarcation agreements.
In a June 24 press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation noted that the Royal Government had registered a formal protest over Thailand’s actions in areas that Cambodia says have been illegally occupied by Thai armed forces since last year.
“Between June 18 and 22, a Thai land surveying team, accompanied by approximately 25 Thai citizens and nine vehicles, conducted a land survey and installed land-boundary markers in Chouk Chey village, O’Bei Choan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, along the boundary segment between Boundary Pillars 46 and 47,” according to the ministry.
It said the activities constituted a clear violation of Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU-2000) between Cambodia and Thailand on the survey and demarcation of the land boundary, as well as the 2003 Terms of Reference (TOR) and the agreed minutes of the Special Meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) held in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province on October 22, 2025.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly protests against the above-mentioned activities,” the ministry said.
The ministry further argued that the Thai actions also breached the de-escalation measures agreed under the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025. Under that agreement, both countries had committed to refer border survey and demarcation work to the Joint Boundary Commission and to refrain from unilateral actions that could heighten tensions.
Cambodia said Thailand’s recent activities ran contrary to those commitments.
“These activities are in breach of Item I (De-escalation Measures) of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC)… in which both sides agreed to refer to the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume at the earliest the survey and demarcation work, in accordance with existing agreements between the two countries,” the statement said.
The government also rejected any attempt by Thailand to unilaterally establish territorial claims or alter the status quo along the border.
“Cambodia does not recognise any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand and stresses that the recent activities shall not prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or position regarding its international border,” the ministry stated.
The latest diplomatic protest comes amid longstanding disagreements over Chouk Chey village, an area that Senate president Hun Sen has repeatedly accused Thailand of occupying illegally.
In recent public remarks, Hun Sen questioned Thailand’s claim over the area, pointing to National Road 58, a major roadway built with Chinese assistance that runs through the disputed area.
He argued that if the area had genuinely belonged to Thailand, Cambodia would not have been able to construct and administer the road there for years.
Hun Sen accused Thai troops of illegally seizing parts of Chouk Chey village during border tensions in 2025 and said Cambodia has never accepted any unilateral change to the status quo.
He reiterated that any border issue must be resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms and international law, rather than through military pressure or unilateral actions on the ground.
Despite adopting a firmer diplomatic tone, Cambodia reiterated that it remains committed to resolving all outstanding border issues through peaceful means.
The government called on Thailand to immediately cease what it described as unlawful activities, refrain from further unilateral actions and work to de-escalate tensions.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia demands that Thailand immediately cease all of such unlawful activities, refrain from further unilateral actions and work to de-escalate tensions, foster mutual trust and preserve peace and good neighbourliness along the border,” the ministry said.
“While firmly upholding its principled position that borderlines must not be changed by force, Cambodia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as with all its neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means, in line with international law and existing bilateral agreements,” it added.
The latest diplomatic protest is the newest development in a series of exchanges between Phnom Penh and Bangkok over border management, with Cambodia repeatedly urging Thailand to respect existing agreements and pursue border demarcation through the Joint Boundary Commission framework rather than through unilateral actions on the ground.
-Phnom Penh Post-
