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Thailand Ready for UNCLOS; Cambodia's Urgency Sparks Concern

Thailand Ready for UNCLOS; Cambodia's Urgency Sparks Concern

Thansettakij•Economy•2h ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand confirms readiness to proceed under UNCLOS, expressing concern over Cambodia's accelerated dispute resolution process.

  • •Thailand, through Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeaw, has declared its preparedness to engage with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
  • •Thailand views Cambodia's swift initiation of mandatory conciliation under UNCLOS as contradictory to its previously stated desire to restore bilateral relations.
  • •Thailand plans to propose conciliators and outline its procedural stance for UNCLOS, emphasizing that recommendations from conciliation are non-binding.
  • •Thailand reiterates its adherence to the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee meeting on December 27, 2025.

Overview

  • •Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeaw stated on June 3, 2026, that Thailand is fully prepared to proceed under UNCLOS.
  • •Cambodia notified Thailand of its intent to use mandatory conciliation under UNCLOS concerning maritime disputes between the two nations.
  • •Thailand has consistently informed Cambodia that the abrogation of the 2001 MOU on overlapping continental shelf claims is necessary due to it not aligning with the current context.
  • •Sihasak Phuangketkeaw stated Thailand wishes to initiate new discussions not bound by past limitations and unresolved issues.
  • •Thailand seeks future discussions based on international law and UNCLOS principles, to which both countries are parties.
  • •Sihasak Phuangketkeaw noted that Cambodia's urgent pursuit of UNCLOS conciliation contradicts its calls for bilateral relationship restoration.
  • •The Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to consult with Thailand's legal advisory team to prepare a list of conciliators and outline Thailand's procedural approach.
  • •Thailand denies Cambodia's accusations regarding land border issues and affirms strict adherence to the Joint Statement of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee meeting on December 27, 2025.

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Key Quotes

Sihasak Phuangketkeaw
"Cambodia should consider the potential impacts of this action, as it may cause the processes it has called for restoration to falter or stagnate."
ฝ่ายกัมพูชาควรคำนึงถึงผลกระทบที่อาจเกิดขึ้นจากการดำเนินการดังกล่าว ซึ่งอาจส่งผลให้กระบวนการต่าง ๆ ที่เคยเรียกร้องให้มีการฟื้นฟูต้องสะดุดหรือหยุดชะงักลง
Sihasak Phuangketkeaw
"Thailand is fully prepared to proceed with all steps, prioritizing the country's supreme interests."
ไทยมีความพร้อมอย่างเต็มที่ในการดำเนินการทุกขั้นตอน โดยคำนึงถึงผลประโยชน์สูงสุดของประเทศเป็นสำคัญ

Key Entities

Person

Sihasak Phuangketkeaw(สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว)ℹ️
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, who is representing Thailand's position on the UNCLOS dispute with Cambodia.

Place

Thailand(ไทย)ℹ️
The country whose stance on UNCLOS and maritime disputes with Cambodia is being discussed.
Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️
The country that has initiated mandatory conciliation under UNCLOS concerning maritime disputes with Thailand.

Law

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS)ℹ️
The international convention under which Thailand and Cambodia are engaging in maritime dispute resolution processes.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(อนุสัญญาสหประชาชาติว่าด้วยกฎหมายทะเล)ℹ️
The Thai name for the international convention governing maritime disputes, also known as UNCLOS.
Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia on overlapping continental shelf claims B.E. 2001(บันทึกความเข้าใจระหว่างไทยและกัมพูชาว่าด้วยพื้นที่ที่ทั้งสองฝ่ายอ้างสิทธิในไหล่ทวีปทับซ้อนกัน พ.ศ.2001)
A past agreement concerning overlapping continental shelf claims between Thailand and Cambodia, which Thailand seeks to abrogate.
MOU 2001
An abbreviation for the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia on overlapping continental shelf claims, dating from B.E. 2001.

Timeline

June 3, 2026(วันที่ 3 มิถุนายน 2026)
The date when Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeaw made a statement via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website regarding the UNCLOS dispute.
December 27, 2025(วันที่ 27 ธันวาคม 2025)
The date of the 3rd Special Session of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee meeting, whose Joint Statement is cited by Thailand.

Organization

Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC)(คณะกรรมการชายแดนทั่วไปไทย-กัมพูชา (GBC))
A committee responsible for border affairs between Thailand and Cambodia, whose past joint statements are referenced in the context of land border issues.