Thai FM says Cambodia misrepresented UNCLOS talks

Thailand’s foreign minister has accused Cambodia of selectively presenting and distorting discussions at a recent UN maritime dispute meeting to gain an advantage, saying Phnom Penh’s account could further undermine trust between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Wednesday that the second meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Conciliation Commission under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held in The Hague from 14 to 18 October, dealt exclusively with maritime boundaries, not the land-border conflict or displaced Cambodian civilians.

Sihasak said Thailand had sent a letter to the commission expressing concern that Cambodia issued its own statement before the commission released its account of the meeting, contrary to an agreement that the commission would speak first. He also said both sides had agreed that public comments should not worsen the situation or introduce further disputes.

While Thailand supported confidence-building measures, Sihasak said Cambodia’s selective interpretation of the discussions was counterproductive. He said Thailand hoped the conciliation process would improve bilateral relations, but progress would depend on both sides honouring their commitments.

He added that Thailand had sought to separate areas of mutual cooperation, including anti-scam efforts and consular matters, from the countries’ outstanding disputes. Both sides needed to ensure the public understood the facts, he said.