Cambodia to seek UN intervention over maritime claims after Thailand withdraws from agreement

Cambodia said on Tuesday that it will seek UN intervention over overlapping maritime claims with Thailand after the Thai Cabinet withdrew from a 2001 agreement. Thailand announced earlier in the day that it has canceled the 25-year-old Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia on joint energy exploration in maritime areas.

Cambodia's response

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn expressed Phnom Penh's "regret" over the decision, adding that the country "has no option but to initiate the compulsory conciliation mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," the daily Khmer Times reported. The canceled MoU, known as MOU 44, was "the only bilateral framework" for addressing overlapping maritime claims and advancing boundary delimitation through peaceful means, Sokhonn said.

Rights unaffected

"Nevertheless, the termination of, or withdrawal from, the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding does not affect Cambodia's lawful rights over its maritime areas," he said.

Thailand's position

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that the decision would not affect international relations, adding that the cancellation was not linked to any conflict with Cambodia. He said progress had stalled on concluding the MoU, which was the main framework for bilateral talks on determining maritime boundaries. He added that UNCLOS would be used as a reference point for both sides.

Border truce

Thailand and Cambodia reached a truce in December, following nearly 20 days of clashes along their disputed border, which left dozens dead and displaced thousands.