Cambodia has vehemently opposed what it considers Thailand’s unauthorized assertions over parts of their shared border, accusing Thai military forces of breaching existing bilateral agreements and engaging in activities on Cambodian soil. In a statement released on June 27, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation claimed that Thai troops have been conducting operations near Border Marker No. 26 in the Banteay Ampil district of Oddar Meanchey province. This has reignited diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring nations.
The Cambodian government alleges that since early June, Thai soldiers have been clearing forested areas and installing barbed wire in an attempt to alter the existing boundary and extend Thailand’s territorial claims into Cambodia. Phnom Penh does not acknowledge the border line claimed by Thailand and insists that the disputed region is still subject to the joint border demarcation process. The ministry emphasized that these actions by Thailand violate Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, which governs land border surveys and demarcation, as well as commitments made during the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee in December 2025.
Cambodia has urged Thailand to cease its unilateral actions and adhere to previously agreed procedures designed to peacefully resolve the ongoing disputes. Government spokesperson Pen Bona revealed that since July 2025, Cambodia has lodged 42 diplomatic protests over alleged border encroachments. Additionally, Phnom Penh has sent nine diplomatic notes requesting the convening of the Joint Boundary Commission and the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to continue technical work on the ground, aiming to de-escalate tensions and advance the formal demarcation process through dialogue.
Phnom Penh maintains that the border should be delineated using the 1:200,000-scale maps created under the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty. Conversely, Cambodia has criticized Thailand for relying on different 1:50,000-scale maps, which Cambodia argues were produced unilaterally and do not reflect mutually recognized agreements. As of now, there has been no public response from Thai authorities regarding Cambodia’s latest statement, leaving the border dispute without resolution.