At a time when border tensions easily invite escalation, Cambodia has chosen a more difficult but principled path: restraint, dialogue and respect for international law. The recent press release by the State Secretariat of Border Affairs is not merely a diplomatic update – it is a reaffirmation of the country’s long-standing goodwill to resolve border issues with Thailand through peaceful, legal and bilateral mechanisms.
Cambodia requested a special meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to be held in early January 2026 in Siem Reap province. That meeting was postponed by the Thai side, citing internal procedures. Rather than politicising the delay or resorting to unilateral measures, Cambodia responded responsibly – issuing a formal diplomatic note on January 5 to request a new meeting date within the same month. This alone demonstrates where Cambodia stands: dialogue first, always.
More importantly, the agenda Cambodia proposed for the JBC meeting speaks volumes about its intentions. The country seeks to resume joint survey and demarcation work, to place temporary boundary markers and to dispatch joint technical teams in accordance with previously agreed minutes. These are not the actions of a state seeking confrontation; they are the actions of a state seeking clarity, stability and peace.
At the same time, Cambodia has been forthright in raising serious concerns. The press release documents activities by Thai military forces that Cambodia views as violations of its territorial integrity – such as the laying of barbed wire, the placement of containers, the digging of trenches, the planting of flags and the clearing or destruction of civilian homes and property. Raising these issues within the JBC framework is precisely how responsible states behave: by addressing disputes through institutions, not through force.
Crucially, Cambodia anchors its position in international law. The State Secretariat explicitly reaffirms adherence to the principle of uti possidetis juris, the Franco-Siamese treaties and maps and the official procès-verbaux agreed upon by both sides. Cambodia has also made its position unambiguous: it will not recognise any alteration of the international boundary resulting from the use of force. This is not a threat – it is a legal principle recognised worldwide.
For the international community, the message is clear. Cambodia is not seeking to rewrite borders, escalate tensions or score political points. It is seeking to complete unfinished technical work through joint mechanisms that both countries have already agreed to. Cambodia’s consistent call for JBC meetings, joint surveys and mutual respect for existing agreements reflects a genuine commitment to lasting peace along the border.
Peace is not achieved by silence, nor by unilateral actions on the ground. Peace is achieved through transparency, law and good-faith negotiations. Cambodia has demonstrated all three.
In reaffirming trust in the Cambodian government and the Cambodian side of the JBC, the State Secretariat has also sent a message to its own citizens: national sovereignty can be defended without abandoning professionalism or responsibility. That is not weakness – it is strength.
As border issues continue to attract regional and international attention, Cambodia’s position deserves to be understood clearly and fairly. The choice before both sides is simple: force or law, unilateralism or cooperation, short-term pressure or long-term peace. Cambodia has already made its choice.
Roth Santepheap is a geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
