Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen Vows Peaceful Path on Thai Border Claims

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, June 9, 2026 (KPT) – Senate President and acting head of state Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving border disputes with Thailand through peaceful means, rejecting the use of military force to reclaim contested territory.

Speaking to displaced residents in Banteay Meanchey province, Samdech Techo said Cambodia remained determined to recover land it considers illegally occupied but stressed the government would rely on diplomacy and legal channels.

“Our land must be taken back. There is no doubt about that. But that does not mean we will use military force to recover it,” he said.

He argued that attempts to alter international boundaries through force were neither legitimate nor sustainable.

“We will never accept a new boundary created through the use of force. That has never been an acceptable principle in the modern world,” he said.

He outlined two possible paths – military action or peaceful negotiation – and said Cambodia had firmly chosen the latter.

His remarks came as officials reported that more than 29,000 people, including nearly 15,000 women and 10,000 children, remain displaced in frontier provinces following clashes late last year.

He urged Thailand to honour commitments to resume border demarcation under agreements reached after the late‑2025 ceasefire, noting Thai authorities had signalled talks would continue once a new government was formed.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen warned that resorting to force would damage Cambodia’s diplomatic standing and risk international condemnation.

“We do not want war and we do not want further confrontation,” he said, adding that avoiding conflict was essential to prevent loss of life.