The Royal Government of Cambodia has initiated Compulsory Conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework to address the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand.
In a special televised address on the State-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK) on June 2, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, announced that Cambodia has formally notified the Kingdom of Thailand and the Secretary‑General of the United Nations to commence the Compulsory Conciliation process under UNCLOS.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet affirmed that the step is taken to safeguard Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with national laws.
He expressed deep regret over the Government of Thailand’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU‑2001), which for more than 25 years had served as a mutually agreed roadmap for joint development and peaceful boundary delimitation.
The Prime Minister noted that Thailand’s withdrawal has undermined a long‑standing channel of bilateral cooperation. By turning to UNCLOS and the Compulsory Conciliation mechanism, he underscored Cambodia’s commitment to universally recognised international law as the appropriate avenue for resolving the dispute.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reiterated that Cambodia’s recourse to international law aims to preserve peace, promote regional stability, and uphold mutual respect for sovereignty.
The Premier emphasised that Compulsory Conciliation is not an escalation but a facilitated negotiation overseen by impartial international conciliators.
“This is not unilateral action. It is an effort to resolve the dispute peacefully, through international law, and in good faith,” Samdech Thipadei said, calling for continued constructive engagement to achieve a just and lasting settlement.
