Military Chief Reaffirms Borders Must Not Be Changed by Force at ASEAN Defence Meeting

PHNOM PENH, May 22, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s military chief has reiterated that national borders must never be altered through the use of force, urging continued efforts to maintain stability along the frontier with Thailand.

General Vong Pisen, Commander‑in‑Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, delivered the remarks during the 23rd ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM‑23), held by video conference on May 21 under the theme “Securing Our Shared Future.”

He said Cambodia remained committed to restoring normalcy along the border and thanked ASEAN member states for supporting ceasefire efforts.

Vong Pisen expressed appreciation to ASEAN chairs for 2025 and 2026 for their roles in backing ceasefire arrangements, and praised ASEAN’s deployment of military officers to join a ceasefire observation mission in Cambodia, calling it a historic demonstration of the bloc’s ability to resolve regional issues independently.

The Cambodian commander added Phnom Penh was ready to cooperate closely with the Philippines during its upcoming ASEAN chairmanship.

He stressed that peace and stability could only be maintained through cooperation, trust and shared responsibility among member states.

General Romeo Brawner of the Philippines also praised Malaysia’s leadership during its ASEAN chairmanship, highlighting its role in supporting ceasefire monitoring along the Cambodia–Thailand border.