Cambodia and Thailand have initiated a United Nations-supported conciliation process to address a protracted maritime boundary dispute in the Gulf of Thailand. This effort is part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with foreign ministers from both nations having made opening statements at the first meeting. The core of Cambodia’s strategy is to negotiate a single maritime boundary with Thailand. As an alternative, Phnom Penh has proposed a joint development agreement to share resources in the contested area.
Thailand, while committed to participating in the process in good faith, has emphasized that the proceedings should strictly focus on maritime boundary delimitation. The Thai government had earlier suggested resolving the issue through direct negotiations. The maritime dispute encompasses approximately 26,000 square kilometers of waters, believed to hold substantial natural gas and oil reserves, making the resolution economically significant for both countries.
The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over these waters has persisted for more than 25 years. In 2001, both nations agreed on a framework for jointly developing the disputed resources. However, this arrangement came to a halt in May when Thailand withdrew following heightened tensions due to deadly border clashes.
Cambodia initiated the compulsory UNCLOS conciliation process in June, seeking an impartial resolution to the ongoing conflict. While an independent panel is responsible for issuing recommendations during this process, it is important to note that these findings are not legally binding for either party involved.