Senate Backs Government Move to Launch UN Maritime Dispute Process with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, May 2, 2026 (KPT) — The Senate has endorsed the government’s decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve a maritime dispute with Thailand.

In a statement, lawmakers backed Prime Minister Hun Manet’s administration after it formally notified Thailand and the UN Secretary‑General of its intention to begin the process to address overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand.

The move follows Thailand’s withdrawal from a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding, which had served as the bilateral framework for managing the disputed area for more than two decades.

Compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS requires states to participate in a formal process before an independent commission, aimed at facilitating peaceful settlement of disputes.

Cambodian legislators said the mechanism represents a lawful and constructive path, citing international precedent such as the 2018 conciliation between Timor‑Leste and Australia — the first of its kind in the Asia‑Pacific.

The Senate reaffirmed support for the government’s commitment to resolving the matter through legal and diplomatic channels, stressing the importance of safeguarding sovereignty and maintaining regional stability.

Lawmakers also urged Cambodians at home and abroad to remain united behind the government’s efforts, and called on the international community to follow the process closely, saying it could strengthen confidence in UN legal mechanisms.

The statement concluded that respect for international law and peaceful dispute settlement remain essential to long‑term stability and prosperity in the region.