Prak Sokhonn Says Thai MoU Exit Does Not Affect Cambodia’s Maritime Rights

PHNOM PENH, April 6, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Tuesday that Thailand’s withdrawal from a long standing maritime agreement does not undermine Cambodia’s legal rights over disputed sea areas, as Cambodia turns to international conciliation mechanisms.

“The termination of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding does not affect Cambodia’s lawful rights over its maritime areas,” Sokhonn said, stressing that the agreement had provided a framework for peaceful settlement of overlapping claims for more than two decades.

He described Thailand’s decision as regrettable and a departure from the spirit of cooperation that underpinned the MoU.

“This MoU established a framework that emphasises peaceful resolution in accordance with international law,” he added.

Prime Minister Hun Manet, speaking Tuesday, said Cambodia would “never compromise its sovereign rights” and reaffirmed that disputes must be resolved peacefully and in line with UNCLOS.

He stressed that Cambodia’s position remains firm and that the government will continue to defend national interests through legal and diplomatic channels.

In response, Cambodia has initiated compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a process designed to help states resolve disputes through an independent panel.

Sokhonn said the move reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to a rules based approach, noting that while Cambodia had prioritised bilateral mechanisms under the MoU, it would now rely on international legal avenues after their collapse.

He stressed that the shift in approach would not alter Cambodia’s legal position on maritime claims, reiterating the government’s commitment to resolving disputes peacefully under UNCLOS, adopted in 1982.