The Cambodian government has once again voiced its disagreement with Thailand’s unilateral actions along their shared border, accusing Thai military forces of breaching bilateral accords and conducting operations inside Cambodian territory. On June 27, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement alleging that Thai troops had entered the vicinity near Border Marker No. 26 in Oddar Meanchey province’s Banteay Ampil district. This incursion prompted Cambodia to lodge a new diplomatic protest against Thailand’s activities.
According to the statement, since early June, Thai soldiers have been clearing forested areas and installing barbed wire along the contested border region. Cambodia contends that these actions are part of an effort by Thailand to push the boundary further into Cambodian land, emphasizing that it does not acknowledge the border line claimed by Thailand. The Cambodian government insists that the disputed area should remain subject to agreed-upon border demarcation procedures, rather than being altered unilaterally by either nation.
The Cambodian authorities argue that Thailand’s actions contravene Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Cambodia-Thailand land border. This violation extends to commitments made during the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee in December 2025. Both agreements stipulate that border demarcation should progress through the collaborative efforts of the Joint Boundary Commission. Cambodia has urged Thailand to cease what it perceives as aggressive actions, dismantle unilateral border installations, and engage in peaceful discussions to resolve these disputes.
Pen Bona, a government spokesperson, revealed that Cambodia has filed 42 diplomatic protests since July 2025, highlighting what it sees as ongoing Thai encroachments. The government has also issued nine diplomatic notes, requesting Joint Boundary Commission meetings and the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to continue technical work on border demarcation. Cambodian officials assert that these actions underscore their commitment to resolving disputes through established bilateral channels.
Cambodia remains firm in its stance that the border should be determined using the 1:200,000-scale maps created under the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty. The Cambodian government has criticized Thailand for relying on separate 1:50,000-scale maps, which they argue were produced unilaterally and lack recognition under current agreements. As of the latest reports, Thai authorities had yet to respond publicly to the claims made by Cambodia.
