Samdech Techo Hun Sen warns against Thai bid to void colonial border treaty

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, June 9, 2026 (KPT) – Senate President and acting head of state Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday warned that any attempt by Thailand to annul colonial‑era border treaties with Cambodia could have wider regional implications, including for Laos.

Speaking to displaced residents in Banteay Meanchey province, Samdech Techo referred to agreements dating back to the French colonial period, saying they formed part of a broader regional legal framework.

“If the Thai government deletes the French‑Siam treaty with Cambodia, it also means it is affecting Laos as well,” he said. “The French treaty covers the whole Indochina region, including Laos, which was also under French colonial rule.”

Samdech Techo Hun Sen cautioned against unilateral moves to disregard historical agreements, stressing that international borders must be respected under international law.

“It must not be deleted at the will of any government at any time. A country must be a state that fully adheres to international law,” he said.

He reiterated Cambodia’s long‑standing policy of resolving disputes peacefully, warning that attempts to redefine boundaries through force would be illegitimate and unsustainable.

“No one in the world is using force to determine new boundaries. That has never happened,” he said.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed that Cambodia had already notified both Thailand and the United Nations of its intention to pursue compulsory conciliation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, underscoring the government’s commitment to legal and diplomatic processes.

He said Cambodia remained hopeful dialogue would continue under agreed frameworks.