Thais acknowledge UNCLOS decision; no formal notification of MoU termination

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (second from left), and his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul (right), met with Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on May 7. Supplied

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Despite acknowledging Cambodia’s decision to request compulsory conciliation mechanism, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Thailand has reportedly yet to formally inform the Kingdom of its unilateral withdrawal from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding which previously governed maritime negotiations.

According to a high-ranking Cambodian official, who requested anonymity, the acknowledgement came during a May 7 trilateral summit meeting between Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand, held on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

The official confirmed that both sides had agreed to use the UNCLOS mechanism to resolve their overlapping maritime claims.

Cambodia notified the Thais of its intention to proceed with compulsory conciliation in a May 6 diplomatic note.

Following the May 7 meeting, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand had agreed to use UNCLOS as the framework for future negotiations.

“Thailand explained its reasons for revoking the 2001 MOU during the meeting. The Cambodian side acknowledged and understood Thailand’s position, with both countries agreeing to use the principles of the UNCLOS as the key framework for future action,” he said.

“Cambodia has not yet received an official notification from Thailand on the termination of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding, in accordance with Articles 65 and 67 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,” noted the anonymous Cambodian official.

-Phnom Penh-Post-