Cambodia has firmly rejected Thailand’s unilateral claims over sections of their shared border, accusing Thai forces of violating existing bilateral agreements by conducting activities within Cambodian territory. In a statement released on June 27, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation asserted that Thai troops have been operating near Border Marker No. 26 in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The Cambodian government claims that since early June, Thai soldiers have been clearing forested areas and installing barbed wire, actions perceived as attempts to alter the current boundary and extend Thailand’s territorial claims into Cambodian land. Phnom Penh stated it does not recognize the border line proposed by Thailand and insisted that the contested area remains subject to a joint border demarcation process agreed upon by both countries.
Cambodia contends that Thailand’s actions breach Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, which governs land border surveys and demarcation, as well as commitments from the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee in December 2025. These agreements require the Joint Boundary Commission to resolve border issues through established bilateral mechanisms. Cambodian officials have urged Thailand to cease what they describe as unilateral actions and adhere to previously agreed-upon procedures to peacefully resolve disputes.
According to government spokesperson Pen Bona, Cambodia has submitted 42 diplomatic protests since July 2025 regarding alleged border encroachments and has sent nine diplomatic notes requesting meetings of the Joint Boundary Commission. These notes also call for the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to continue technical work on the ground, aiming to reduce tensions and advance the formal demarcation process through dialogue rather than unilateral actions.
Phnom Penh insists that the border should be determined using the 1:200,000-scale maps from the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty. In contrast, Cambodia has criticized Thailand for using different 1:50,000-scale maps, which it claims were created unilaterally and do not reflect mutually recognized agreements. As of now, Thai authorities have not publicly responded to Cambodia’s latest statement, leaving the border dispute unresolved.
