Teng Urges PM to Use ASEAN for Thai-Cambodian Border Talks

Thairath•Politics•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai politician Nattapong Rueangpanyawut urges Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to leverage the ASEAN Summit to address critical issues including the Thai-Cambodian maritime dispute, energy crisis, and transboundary pollution.

•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, has proposed three key agendas for the Prime Minister to address at the ASEAN Summit.
•The proposed agendas focus on resolving the overlapping maritime claims between Thailand and Cambodia, tackling the regional energy crisis, and mitigating environmental issues like transboundary pollution.
•Rueangpanyawut emphasized the need for Thailand to take a leading role in ASEAN and advocated for bilateral negotiations on border disputes rather than involving international bodies like UNCLOS.

Overview

•On May 7, 2026, Nattapong Rueangpanyawut posted a message on Facebook to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before the Prime Minister's travel to the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut proposed three agendas for the Prime Minister to use the ASEAN platform to resolve issues: the dispute over overlapping maritime claims between Thailand and Cambodia, the energy crisis, and environmental issues.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut stated that Thailand's role in ASEAN has been declining, as has ASEAN's role as a regional bargaining power, amidst competition among major powers.
•On May 5, the Cabinet resolved to cancel MOU 44, which Nattapong Rueangpanyawut believed could have benefited Thailand's interests.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut expressed concern that entering disputes into the UNCLOS compulsory conciliation process could lead to third-party interference, which Thailand cannot control or predict.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut urged the Prime Minister to show Thailand's readiness to be the 'ASEAN Environment Leader' by establishing an Air Pollution Command Center (CACC) and upgrading it to an ASEAN coordination center.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut noted that despite the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) being in place for over 20 years, the government has not effectively used international mechanisms to solve the problem.
•Nattapong Rueangpanyawut believes the key obstacle is not the lack of mechanisms or knowledge, but the absence of 'political will'.

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Key Quotes

Nattapong Rueangpanyawut

"I therefore propose 3 agendas that the Prime Minister of Thailand can use the ASEAN platform to resolve issues: the dispute over overlapping maritime claims between Thailand and Cambodia, the energy crisis, and environmental issues."

ผมจึงขอเสนอ 3 วาระที่นายกรัฐมนตรีของประเทศไทยสามารถใช้เวทีอาเซียนเพื่อนำไปสู่การแก้ปัญหา นั่นคือ ข้อพิพาทพื้นที่อ้างสิทธิทับซ้อนทางทะเลระหว่างไทย-กัมพูชา วิกฤตด้านพลังงาน และด้านสิ่งแวดล้อม

Nattapong Rueangpanyawut

"Thailand must control bilateral negotiations to protect national interests, rather than proposing disputes enter the UNCLOS process, fearing third-party interference."

ไทยต้องคุมเกมเจรจาทวิภาคีรักษาผลประโยชน์ของชาติ มากกว่าเสนอให้ข้อพิพาทเข้าสู่กระบวนการ UNCLOS หวั่นบุคคลที่ 3 เข้ามาแทรกแซง

Nattapong Rueangpanyawut

"What is lacking is 'political will'."

สิ่งที่ขาดคือ “เจตจำนงทางการเมือง”

Key Entities

Person

Teng Nattapong(เท้ง ณัฐพงษ์)

A politician and leader of the People's Party who advises the Prime Minister on foreign policy and regional issues.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

The Prime Minister of Thailand, advised by Nattapong Rueangpanyawut on ASEAN engagement.

Organization

ASEAN(อาเซียน)ℹ️

The regional organization where Thailand's Prime Minister is attending a summit and where Nattapong Rueangpanyawut suggests key negotiations should take place.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party led by Nattapong Rueangpanyawut.

CACC

The proposed Air Pollution Command Center that Nattapong Rueangpanyawut suggests Thailand should establish and elevate to an ASEAN coordination center.

Lancang-Mekong Cooperationℹ️

A framework for cooperation involving Thailand, Myanmar, and China, suggested for addressing water pollution from mining in neighboring countries.

China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center

A mechanism through which Nattapong Rueangpanyawut suggests expanding negotiations with China to address environmental issues.

Place

Thailand-Cambodia(ไทย-กัมพูชา)

Two neighboring countries involved in a dispute over overlapping maritime claims.

Law

UNCLOSℹ️

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a process Nattapong Rueangpanyawut advises against using for the Thailand-Cambodia dispute.

MOU 44

A Memorandum of Understanding that was cancelled by the Cabinet on May 5, which Nattapong Rueangpanyawut suggested could have protected Thailand's interests.

AATHP

The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, a long-standing agreement that Nattapong Rueangpanyawut argues has not been effectively utilized.

Policy

ASEAN Power Grid

A proposed system for interconnecting electricity grids within ASEAN, which Thailand is urged to lead in developing.