Cambodia has reiterated its opposition to Thailand’s unilateral border claims, accusing Thai forces of breaching bilateral agreements and conducting unauthorized activities within Cambodian territory. On June 27, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement alleging that Thai troops had entered areas near Border Marker No. 26 in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province. This incursion prompted Cambodia to lodge a new diplomatic protest, asserting that Thai soldiers have been clearing land and installing barbed wire near the contentious border since early June. Cambodia argues these actions appear to aim at shifting the boundary further into its territory and stresses that it does not recognize the border line as asserted by Thailand.
The Cambodian government maintains that the disputed border area should be subject to mutually agreed demarcation procedures rather than any unilateral actions. Phnom Penh contends that Thailand’s activities violate Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on the Cambodia-Thailand land border, as well as agreements from the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee held in December 2025. These agreements mandate continued border demarcation through the Joint Boundary Commission. Cambodia has called on Thailand to cease what it describes as hostile actions, remove unilateral installations, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve the disagreements.
According to government spokesperson Pen Bona, Cambodia has submitted 42 diplomatic protests since July 2025 regarding what it perceives as repeated Thai encroachments. The government has also sent nine diplomatic notes requesting meetings of the Joint Boundary Commission and the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to continue technical work on border demarcation. Cambodian officials emphasize that these efforts reflect the country’s commitment to resolving disputes through established bilateral mechanisms.
Cambodia insists that the border should be determined using the 1:200,000-scale maps produced under the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty. The government has criticized Thailand for relying on separate 1:50,000-scale maps, which Phnom Penh claims were produced unilaterally and are not recognized under existing agreements. As of the latest statement, Thai authorities had not publicly responded to Cambodia’s allegations, leaving the situation unresolved.