Cambodia Urged to Prioritize Diplomacy in Managing Border Tensions with Thailand

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct. 22, 2025) — As Cambodia continues to navigate its border dispute with Thailand, experts are urging the government to maintain its focus on diplomacy and legal mechanisms to prevent escalation and safeguard national sovereignty.

“While we are patient on the military aspects, our key battle is on the diplomatic stage and through legal mechanisms,” said Deth Sok Udom, a professor at Paragon International University.

He emphasized that Cambodia’s approach must remain multifaceted—engaging in bilateral talks under existing memorandums and forums such as the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), General Border Committee (GBC), and Regional Border Committee (RBC), while restoring diplomatic ties and returning to pre-conflict conditions.

Sok Udom said a peace agreement at the upcoming ASEAN Summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend, would carry greater diplomatic weight than the ceasefire signed in August.

He also called for the formal deployment of an ASEAN Observer Team and continued legal proceedings through the International Court of Justice.

Geopolitical analyst Thong Mengdavid echoed the sentiment, saying Cambodia’s “utmost patience” amid Thai border encroachments reflects a strategic and well-calculated diplomatic posture.

“Rather than resorting to force, Phnom Penh is relying on legal and diplomatic mechanisms such as the 1904–1907 treaties, the 2000 memorandum of understanding, and possible ICJ action to maintain legal legitimacy,” he said.

Mengdavid added that Cambodia’s restraint helps preserve international support and credibility, showing that peaceful resolution is not weakness but a commitment to lawful sovereignty.

“Mending fences through diplomacy may not immediately resolve the border issue, but it helps prevent escalation and frames the dispute within legal boundaries where Cambodia holds stronger ground,” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Manet reinforced the message during the inauguration of Techo International Airport on Oct. 20. “Cambodia may be quiet, but it is not silent,” he said. “The war is not yet over. The Khmer people must remain united, and there must be no doubt or hesitation when it comes to matters of national defense.”