Thailand and Cambodia began a United Nations-facilitated conciliation process Tuesday to resolve a long-standing dispute over overlapping maritime claims. Foreign ministers from both nations exchanged opening statements in Singapore at the first meeting under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) agreement for compulsory conciliation.
The disputed territory is believed to contain substantial reserves of natural gas and other hydrocarbons. Cambodia initiated the UNCLOS proceedings in June after Thailand unilaterally terminated a 25-year-old memorandum of understanding that aimed to settle overlapping maritime claims.
Thailand's decision to revoke the agreement followed a period of strained relations and armed clashes with Cambodia in the preceding year. Both countries experienced significant casualties and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people due to border conflicts in July and December. The land border disputes involved competing territorial claims, with each side experiencing armed combat.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn led their respective delegations in the conciliation meeting, which is scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution that would benefit both nations and contribute to regional peace and prosperity. He stated that Cambodia resorted to UNCLOS proceedings in line with its commitment to the rule of law and peaceful dispute settlement.
Minister Sihasak asserted that Thailand remains committed to international law and peaceful dispute resolution. He argued that the previously revoked memorandum of understanding had yielded no tangible progress, with only two meetings held over its 25-year existence. Sihasak expressed Thailand's readiness to re-engage in negotiations, noting that direct talks were previously offered to Cambodia but disregarded before the UNCLOS process began. He stated that Thailand aims to engage constructively in the current process to achieve a negotiated and equitable solution with the commission's assistance.
A fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia was established in late December, but tensions persist, marked by sporadic incidents and significant military deployments along the border.
While both nations are signatories to the UNCLOS pact, any ruling from the commission is not binding. Thailand has historically shown reluctance towards third-party arbitration for territorial matters, preferring bilateral negotiations. This stance is partly influenced by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding territory to Cambodia, a decision Thailand has long considered unfair and a source of ongoing tension.