PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for Thailand to appoint the head of its Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and begin long-delayed border survey and demarcation work, while reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to resolving border disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.
Manet shared what he described as “an informal conversation” with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on the sidelines of an Asean-Russia engagement in Kazan, Russia.
In a Friday (June 19) social media post, Manet said Cambodia remained committed to peaceful solutions to border issues with Thailand and would continue to pursue existing legal and diplomatic mechanisms.
This included the compulsory conciliation process under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which Cambodia and Thailand are already engaged in.
On land border issues, he said Cambodia continued to favour bilateral negotiations through the JBC and existing agreements but urged Thailand to accelerate the process.
“Up until now Cambodia still chooses the existing bilateral mechanism, which is the Joint Boundary Commission, in accordance with existing agreements,” Manet said.
“However, Cambodia urges Thailand to appoint its JBC chief and to begin joint survey and demarcation works as soon as possible, in accordance with Point Three of the Joint Statement signed on December 27, 2025,” he added.
The Cambodian leader reiterated that discussions on reopening land border crossings were unnecessary at this stage.
Thailand offered a similar account of the exchange, with Anutin telling Thai media that the two leaders had only a brief informal conversation because of limited time.
He described the encounter as little more than “pulling each other aside by the elbow”, saying the discussion took place on the margins of meetings in Kazan.
According to Anutin, both sides reiterated that they did not want conflict and exchanged views on the mechanisms available to address border issues.
He said Thailand remained committed to international and bilateral frameworks, including UNCLOS, the JBC and the General Border Committee (GBC).
“We reaffirmed that neither side wants conflict,” Anutin was quoted as saying, adding that Thailand would continue to closely monitor the border situation.
When asked whether he had discussed reopening border checkpoints with Hun Manet, Anutin reportedly laughed off the question.
“I had no intention of raising the issue because Thai people would be furious,” he said.
The differing emphases in the two leaders’ public remarks nevertheless pointed to a common position that border disputes should be managed through peaceful dialogue and established mechanisms rather than confrontation.
Manet’s comments also underscore Cambodia’s dual-track approach to the border issue: pursuing compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS for maritime disputes while relying on bilateral negotiations through the JBC for land boundary demarcation.
The exchange in Kazan comes as border issues between Cambodia and Thailand remain under close public scrutiny in both countries, with their governments continuing to pursue diplomatic channels to manage disagreements and maintain stability along the frontier. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
