Thai Side Yet to Fully Implement Border Agreements, Cambodian Defense Ministry Says

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Sept.25, 2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that several agreements reached during the first Special Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting have yet to be fully implemented by the Thai side.

The meeting, held on Sept. 10 in Koh Kong Province, focused on resolving ongoing border tensions, particularly near Chok Chey Village in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey Province, opposite Nong Chan Village in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo Province.

Both sides had agreed to assign the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as the lead mechanism for joint border surveys and demarcation. However, Cambodian officials say progress has stalled.

In a bid to maintain dialogue, Banteay Meanchey Governor Oum Reatrey sent an invitation on Sept. 23 to his Sa Kaeo counterpart for a bilateral meeting to coordinate administrative efforts in Prey Chan and Chok Chey on the Cambodian side, and Nong Ya Kaeo and Nong Chan on the Thai side.

According to Cambodian officials, Thai authorities declined to attend the proposed Sept. 25 meeting in Poipet.

The ministry also confirmed the postponement of a Regional Border Committee meeting between Cambodia’s Military Region 5 and Thailand’s Army Area 1, citing leadership transitions within the Thai military.

A separate RBC session with the Chanthaburi-Trat Defense Command also remains unscheduled.

Both sides have agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from the border area, with the process to be monitored by the ASEAN Observer Team to ensure transparency and mutual trust.