Thailand to Cancel MOU 44, But Maritime Talks with Cambodia Continue Amidst Outcry

Prachachat•Politics•20d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Cabinet will review the cancellation of MOU 44 today, but insists that maritime negotiations with Cambodia will proceed under international law, specifically UNCLOS, despite a Cambodian outcry.

•Thailand's Cabinet is set to consider the cancellation of MOU 44 today (specific date not mentioned).
•Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Poomkase confirmed the cancellation but stressed that negotiations with Cambodia will continue.
•Discussions will now be guided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as Cambodia has voiced objections.
•The status of future discussions at the ASEAN summit in the Philippines remains unconfirmed.

Overview

•The Cabinet is scheduled to consider the cancellation of MOU 44 today.
•Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Poomkase stated that Thailand will cancel MOU 44.
•Cambodia has voiced objections to MOU 44, prompting the need for a new approach.
•Negotiations with Cambodia will continue under the framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
•This change aims to resolve maritime disputes based on international law rather than the previous MOU.
•Sihasak Poomkase emphasized that canceling the MOU does not mean ending negotiations.
•Whether discussions with Cambodia will occur at the ASEAN summit in the Philippines is not confirmed.
•Sihasak Poomkase proceeded to the Cabinet meeting without answering further questions about the ASEAN summit.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Prachachat (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Sihasak Poomkase, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

"We are canceling the MOU, but not ending negotiations, continuing under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

เรายกเลิก MOU แต่ไม่ได้ยุติการเจรจา ยังเดินหน้าภายใตอนุสัญญาสหประชาชาติว่าด้วยกฎหมายทางทะเล (UNCLOS)

Key Entities

Person

Sihasak Poomkase(สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, who confirmed the upcoming cancellation of MOU 44 and ongoing negotiations with Cambodia.

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The Thai Cabinet, which will deliberate on the cancellation of MOU 44.

ASEAN(อาเซียน)ℹ️

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where discussions about future talks with Cambodia might take place.

Law

MOU 44

A Memorandum of Understanding that Thailand plans to cancel, leading to continued maritime negotiations with Cambodia.

UNCLOSℹ️

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international legal framework by which maritime negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia will now proceed.

Place

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️

The nation whose objections to MOU 44 have led to its cancellation and the continuation of maritime negotiations under UNCLOS.

Philippines(ฟิลิปปินส์)ℹ️

The host country for the upcoming ASEAN summit, where potential discussions with Cambodia might be held.