Cambodia Protests Thai Border Activities, Citing Sovereignty Violations

PHNOM PENH, June 25, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has lodged a formal protest against Thai survey work in a disputed frontier area, saying the activities breached bilateral agreements and violated its sovereignty, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

Officials said a Thai land surveying team, accompanied by 25 civilians and nine vehicles, carried out survey work and installed boundary markers between June 18 and 22 in Chouk Chey village, O’Bei Choan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province.

The site lies between Border Pillars 46 and 47, which Phnom Penh says have been illegally occupied by Thai forces since last year.

The ministry said the actions contravened the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on land boundary demarcation and subsequent accords, as well as commitments made at a Joint Boundary Commission meeting in October 2025 and a General Border Committee session in December 2025.

Both sides had agreed to pursue demarcation through established bilateral mechanisms.

Cambodia stressed it does not recognise any boundary line unilaterally asserted by Thailand and said the survey work would not affect its legal position.

It urged Bangkok to halt what it called unlawful activities, refrain from further unilateral moves and work to ease tensions along the frontier.

Despite the dispute, Phnom Penh reaffirmed its commitment to resolving border issues peacefully and in line with international law and existing agreements. Thailand has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.