AKP Phnom Penh, May 17, 2026 --

Cambodia has reiterated that all survey and demarcation work along the Cambodia-Thailand border falls exclusively under the mandate of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), following a field mission conducted with the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) in Banteay Meanchey province.

According to a press release issued by H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence on Sunday, the Cambodian Liaison Group (CLG) coordinated a mission on the morning of May 17 at 09:00 AM with the AOT led by the Philippines as Head of Mission.

The purpose of the mission was to observe, verify, and report on the border situation in Seila Khmer village, O’Beichoan commune, O’Chrov district, an area described as long cultivated and used by Cambodian citizens and remaining under Cambodian administration since the emergency ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand took effect on Dec. 27, 2025.

The mission also assessed compliance with stabilisation measures outlined in the Joint Declaration following the ceasefire agreement.

Cambodia reaffirmed that boundary survey and demarcation activities on the ground are the sole responsibility of the JBC, emphasising that neither military forces nor local authorities are authorised to determine boundary lines on the terrain.

The statement further stressed that clarification of the international boundary must be conducted through Joint Survey Teams under the JBC framework, in line with existing legal and technical instruments, including the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, historical maps and records, agreed minutes of the JBC, the MOU 2000, and the TOR 2003.

Cambodia strongly rejected any unilateral alteration of the border through the use of force, past or present, and urged the Thai side to deploy Joint Survey Teams to resume fieldwork and convene an early meeting of the JBC.

The Ministry of National Defence reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to fully implement the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on Dec. 27, 2025, the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement signed on Oct. 26, 2025, and other relevant agreements.

The Ministry underlined that these commitments aim to ensure recovery, restore normalcy, and sustain long-term peace and stability along the border.

By C. Nika