AKP Phnom Penh, August 15, 2026 --

The Royal Government of Cambodia has formally lodged a strong protest against Thailand’s continued violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

According to a press release issued this morning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Thai authorities conducted another round of land allocation to Thai citizens on Aug. 13 in Chouk Chey village, O’Bei Choan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia.

The area is situated along the border segment between Boundary Pillars 45 and 47.

The Ministry described the land allocation as an unlawful administrative action and said it was a clear attempt to legitimise Thailand’s illegal occupation while denying the right to safe return of Cambodian people who had been forcibly evicted from their homes and farmland in the area.

Cambodia said the activities prejudge the ongoing demarcation work of the Joint Boundary Commissions of the two countries and violate Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary (MoU 2000), signed between Cambodia and Thailand on June 14, 2000.

They also breach the Agreed Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) dated Oct. 22, 2025, and Item I on De-escalation Measures of the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on Dec. 27, 2025, the Ministry said.

Cambodia reiterated that it does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand, stressing that the activities in question shall not prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or position concerning its international boundary.

The Royal Government urged Thailand to cease further activities in the areas concerned, as well as in any other areas allegedly unlawfully occupied by Thai armed forces since last year.

Such steps would help de-escalate the situation, foster mutual trust, facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, and restore peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as well as with all its neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.

At the same time, Cambodia maintained its principled position that international borders must not be changed by force.

By C. Nika