Pen Bona: Cambodia’s UN Legal Move Key Step in Sovereignty Strategy

PHNOM PENH, June 3, 2026 (KPT) — Government spokesperson Pen Bona says Cambodia’s decision to invoke compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) marks a crucial step in its diplomatic strategy to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking at the routine press briefing on Tuesday, Bona said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful and lawful means, which he described as a top national priority.

He noted the move, announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet, has drawn broad support from the Senate, National Assembly, ministries and provincial administrations, all expressing confidence the process is being undertaken in good faith and in line with international law.

He said compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS has been used only once before — in the Timor‑Leste–Australia maritime boundary case resolved in 2018 — making Cambodia’s case only the second such instance.

Hun Manet said the mechanism provides a peaceful route to resolution through international legal experts, stressing it is preferable to armed conflict, which would cause loss of life and ultimately require renewed negotiations.

Later Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn briefed diplomats and international organisations in Phnom Penh, expressing regret over Thailand’s withdrawal from the 2001 memorandum on overlapping maritime claims.

He said Cambodia had exhausted all peaceful options before concluding conciliation was the only path forward.

Bona added the process underscores Cambodia’s broader diplomatic approach of protecting sovereignty through international law, while promoting stability, development and peaceful relations in the region.