Cambodia brings ASEAN observers to inspect disputed Thai frontier
Cambodia hosted ASEAN observers to inspect a disputed border area with Thailand on Sunday, verifying compliance with a ceasefire agreement that took effect in December 2025.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — 17 May 2026, A joint delegation of Cambodian officials and ASEAN observers carried out a monitoring mission along a contested section of the Thailand-Cambodia border on Sunday, according to a statement released by Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense.
Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said the Cambodian Liaison Group coordinated the site visit with the ASEAN Observer Team, led by the Philippines as Head of Mission, at 09:00 on Sunday. The delegation inspected the border area at Seila Khmer Village in O Bei Chon Commune, O Chrov District, Banteay Meanchey Province.
Phnom Penh maintains that the area has been continuously cultivated and administered by Cambodian citizens since an emergency ceasefire with Thailand took effect on 27 December 2025. The observers aimed to verify the border situation and evaluate compliance with stabilization measures outlined in the joint ceasefire agreement, which followed heightened tensions between the neighboring nations last year.
Cambodia strongly reiterated that formal survey and demarcation work remains the exclusive mandate of the bilateral Joint Boundary Commission and its Joint Survey Teams. The defense ministry explicitly rejected any unilateral alterations to the international boundary line, insisting that all border determinations must strictly adhere to historical framework agreements including the Franco-Siamese conventions and the MOU 2000.
Cambodian authorities firmly rejected any border changes resulting from historical or present use of force. Phnom Penh urged Bangkok to dispatch its survey teams back to the field to resume demarcation work and called for an immediate meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand on 26 October 2025, as well as resolutions passed during the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee on 27 December 2025, aimed at restoring long-lasting peace and stability along the frontier.
