Cambodia lodges new border demarcation proposals amid tensions with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, Feb 24, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has submitted a new diplomatic note to Thailand proposing the resumption of joint land boundary work, as tensions continue over disputed frontier areas, officials said Tuesday.

The State Secretariat of Border Affairs said the Cambodian side of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) sent a Note Verbale on February 23 outlining plans to restart survey and demarcation activities.

The proposals include dispatching joint survey teams to install temporary boundary markers between pillars 42–47 in Banteay Meanchey province and pillars 52–59 in Battambang province in early March.

Teams are also scheduled to survey other segments, including Boeung Trakuon and Thmor Da in Pursat province, and to mark streams, rivers and straight boundary lines agreed at the 6th JBC meeting in June 2025.

Cambodia further proposed convening the 12th meeting of the Cambodian–Thai Operational Group and the 5th meeting of the Joint Technical Sub Commission in early March, followed by a special JBC session.

The note strongly protested what Phnom Penh describes as Thai military incursions, including illegal occupation, barbed wire installation, container placement, road construction, destruction of homes and renaming of roads.

The Secretariat said such actions violate international law, the UN and ASEAN Charters, previous JBC agreements and Cambodia’s sovereignty.

Officials reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to upholding borders inherited from the Indochina–Siam Boundary Commission, in line with international law, the principle of uti possidetis juris, Franco–Siam treaties and mutually agreed accords.

Phnom Penh said it will continue demarcation work but will not recognize any boundary changes imposed by force.

The Secretariat called on citizens and the international community to trust the Royal Government and the Cambodian JBC in safeguarding territorial integrity and national sovereignty.