Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has appointed seasoned diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow, minister of Foreign Affairs, to spearhead Thailand’s representation in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) process, while issuing a stern warning that the country will freeze all bilateral border committees and cross-border cooperation following Cambodia’s unilateral appeal to the UN over disputed maritime boundary.
"Thailand remains steadfast in addressing the maritime boundary dispute with Cambodia through international legal frameworks," Anutin stated.
“The government has appointed Sihasak, a seasoned foreign affairs expert, to spearhead the country's representation as the process moves forward,” he said while emphasising that matters of international relations require specialised diplomatic handling.
When questioned about Thailand's proactive strategy, Anutin dismissed the notion of aggressive maneuvering by either side and stressed that the primary objective is to safeguard Thailand's existing national benefits, sovereignty, and legal rights robustly, ensuring the country concedes no historical advantages during the upcoming proceedings.
The Prime Minister noted that entering the UNCLOS process involves a complex, multi-stage legal journey. Further intricate details regarding the international treaties and specific legal boundaries will be disclosed by Sihasak at the appropriate time, given the highly technical and specialised nature of the dispute.
Addressing concerns regarding Cambodia’s historical tendency to seek tactical advantage on the global stage, Anutin remained unperturbed, asserting that Thailand has adhered strictly to international law.
He remarked that nations constantly seeking external validation often do so to compensate for a lack of inherent legitimacy, whereas Thailand remains confident in its rightful sovereign position and is fully prepared to justify its stance both domestically and internationally.
In response to Cambodia’s formal complaint to the United Nations, alleging that Thailand unilaterally breached the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 44), Anutin countered that Phnom Penh's actions contradict its own claims.
He argued that, if Cambodia rejects UNCLOS, it leaves no room for progress, pointing out that, since both nations are signatories to the convention, they must abide by its mechanisms.
The Prime Minister concluded by emphasising that Thailand did not simply abandon dialogue, but sought a fresh negotiation framework after years of stagnation under MoU 44.
He declared that, because Cambodia bypassed bilateral talks to seek UN intervention via UNCLOS, Thailand will now focus on the UNCLOS process, effectively freezing all other bilateral engagements, including meetings of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC), cross-border cooperation, and the reopening of any border checkpoints.
