Cambodia has firmly dismissed Thailand’s claims to certain segments of their shared border, denouncing what it sees as violations of existing agreements by Thai forces. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed these concerns on June 27, accusing Thai troops of conducting operations near Border Marker No. 26 in the Banteay Ampil district of Oddar Meanchey province. These actions have reignited diplomatic tensions between the neighboring countries.
Since early June, Thai soldiers have reportedly been clearing land and installing barbed wire in the disputed area, according to the Cambodian government. Phnom Penh alleges these activities aim to shift the boundary in Thailand’s favor by expanding their territorial claims into Cambodia. The Cambodian ministry emphasized that it does not recognize the border line claimed by Thailand, insisting that the area remains subject to ongoing joint border demarcation processes.
Cambodia argues that these actions breach the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding regarding land border surveys and demarcation, as well as agreements from the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the General Border Committee in December 2025. These agreements call for the Joint Boundary Commission to address border issues using established bilateral mechanisms. Cambodian officials have urged Thailand to cease what they describe as unilateral actions and to comply with previously agreed procedures designed to resolve disputes peacefully.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona revealed that Cambodia has filed 42 diplomatic protests since July 2025 over alleged border encroachments. Additionally, Phnom Penh has dispatched nine diplomatic notes requesting meetings of the Joint Boundary Commission and the deployment of Joint Survey Teams to further technical work on the ground. These initiatives aim to alleviate tensions and promote the formal demarcation process through dialogue rather than unilateral measures.
Phnom Penh maintains that the border should be determined based on 1:200,000-scale maps created under the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty. It has criticized Thailand for using different 1:50,000-scale maps, which Cambodia claims were developed unilaterally and do not align with mutually agreed terms. As of now, there has been no public response from Thai authorities regarding Cambodia’s latest statement, leaving the border dispute unresolved.