Cambodia Reaffirms International Law in Thailand Border Dispute

PHNOM PENH, June 11, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to defending its internationally recognised border with Thailand in line with international law, government spokesman Pen Bona said Thursday.

Speaking in Phnom Penh, Bona said Cambodia’s position is based on boundaries inherited from the Franco‑Indochina‑Siam Boundary Commission, as well as Franco‑Siam treaties, conventions, maps and bilateral agreements.

He stressed that Cambodia adheres to the principle of uti possidetis juris, which upholds the inviolability of inherited borders, and rejects any attempt to alter the frontier through force.

Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet has consistently prioritised diplomacy to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, Bona added.

He cited Hun Manet’s keynote address at the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on June 8–9, where the premier warned that the fragile ceasefire along the border could affect bilateral relations and wider regional stability.

The speech reiterated Cambodia’s stance that disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, both on land and at sea.

Samdech Thipadei also raised the issue during bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the forum. In talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, he welcomed progress in Cambodia–US relations and briefed him on recent border developments.

The prime minister reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to resolving the dispute peacefully under international law and existing agreements.

Bona said the government’s position reflects a firm boundary policy rooted in legal principles and diplomacy, aimed at protecting national interests while maintaining regional peace.