Cambodia has voiced strong opposition against Thailand’s unilateral claims concerning parts of their shared boundary, accusing Thai military forces of infringing upon existing bilateral agreements by undertaking activities within Cambodian territory. On June 27, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement alleging that Thai troops had entered areas close to Border Marker No. 26 in the Banteay Ampil district of Oddar Meanchey province. This incursion led Phnom Penh to issue a renewed diplomatic protest.
The ministry reported that since early June, Thai soldiers have engaged in clearing forested areas and setting up barbed wire near the contentious border zone. Cambodia contends these actions are strategically designed to push the boundary further into its territory, rejecting the border line claimed by Thailand. The Cambodian government insists that the disputed area should remain subject to joint border demarcation procedures rather than any unilateral moves.
Phnom Penh has argued that Thailand’s actions contravene Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Cambodia-Thailand land border, as well as promises made during the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee in December 2025. These agreements mandate that both nations continue with border demarcation efforts through the Joint Boundary Commission. Cambodia is calling for Thailand to cease what it describes as aggressive actions, dismantle unilateral border installations, and resolve any disagreements through peaceful discussions.
According to government spokesperson Pen Bona, Cambodia has filed 42 diplomatic protests since July 2025 concerning what it perceives as recurrent Thai encroachments. Additionally, the government has dispatched nine diplomatic notes requesting Joint Boundary Commission meetings and the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to further technical work on border demarcation. Cambodian officials say these actions reflect the nation’s commitment to resolving disputes through established bilateral frameworks.
Cambodia maintains 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 government has criticized Thailand for utilizing separate 1:50,000-scale maps, which Phnom Penh argues were produced unilaterally and are not recognized under current agreements. As of the latest statement, Thai authorities have yet to publicly respond to Cambodia’s assertions.