Thailand Insists Maritime Border With Cambodia Must Come First

Bangkok — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thailand remains committed to clearly demarcating its maritime boundary with Cambodia before discussing joint resource development or benefit-sharing. Speaking at Government House on Thursday, Sihasak said the first meeting of the Compulsory Conciliation Commission under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea had proceeded positively. He said Thailand presented its position and explained the developments leading to the conciliation process, stressing the importance of sincerity in negotiations and a sustainable settlement to bilateral issues. "For Thailand, a sustainable settlement means clearly defining the maritime boundary first," Sihasak said. Asked about Cambodia's position, he said Phnom Penh also places importance on maritime boundary delimitation but would like to pursue benefit-sharing and joint development if the process takes time. Thailand, he said, maintains that the maritime boundary must be clearly established before joint development or resource sharing discussions can proceed. On Thailand-Cambodia relations, Sihasak said ties were improving and that Cambodia had shown a more conciliatory approach, potentially opening space for further talks. Regarding reports that Cambodian troops dug and later filled in a new trench along the land border, Sihasak said the incident concerned the land boundary rather than the maritime dispute and that both countries should avoid confrontational actions.