The Cambodian government has lodged a formal protest against Thailand over alleged road construction and preparations for further work by the Thai military, who are occupying Cambodian territory in Oddar Meanchey province.
An October 23 statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation described the activities as “violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as existing border agreements and de-escalation measures”.
It noted that Thai forces used heavy machinery to carry out road construction in the Ta Tum area of Anlong Veng district, between boundary pillars 9, 10 and 11 on October 15.
Two days later, they allegedly sprayed red markings on trees between boundary pillars 10 and 11, in preparation for further road construction.
The activities prompted Cambodia to lodge a formal protest, with the government maintaining that the construction and preparations for additional work constituted a clear violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ministry said Cambodia’s international boundary was defined and delimited by the 1:200,000-scale maps produced by the Commissions for the Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, pursuant to the Franco-Siamese Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907.
It further argued that the alleged activities violated Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary, signed on June 14, 2000.
Cambodia also accused Thailand of breaching Item I, concerning de-escalation measures, of the Joint Statement adopted at the third Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025, following renewed armed clashes between the two countries.
The December 27 agreement was intended to halt hostilities, reduce military tensions and establish conditions for restoring stability along the border after fighting displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians from their homes.
In its latest statement, the Cambodian government reiterated that it would not recognise any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand.
It stressed that such activities could not prejudice Cambodia’s legal rights or its position regarding the international boundary between the two countries.
The position reflects Cambodia’s continued reliance on historical treaties, internationally recognised legal principles and existing bilateral agreements as the basis for resolving boundary disputes, rather than accepting unilateral changes on the ground.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia demands that Thailand cease all such unlawful activities, refrain from further unilateral actions, and work to de-escalate tensions, foster mutual trust, and preserve peace and good neighbourliness along the border,” the ministry said.
Cambodia and Thailand continue to face unresolved boundary disputes following two rounds of armed conflict in 2025, despite agreements to cease hostilities and implement measures aimed at preventing renewed confrontation.
Cambodia has repeatedly called for land boundary issues to be addressed through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), using legal and technical procedures based on historical documents, relevant treaties and existing bilateral agreements.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has emphasised that negotiations over the land boundary must be grounded in legal and technical evidence, with the JBC serving as the appropriate mechanism for resolving outstanding disputes.
The government’s latest protest underscores concerns that unilateral construction activities in contested border areas could complicate demarcation efforts and undermine confidence-building measures agreed upon after the December 2025 ceasefire.
The October 23 statement did not specify the length or extent of the road allegedly constructed by Thai forces, nor did it indicate whether construction had been completed or was continuing at the time of its release.
Despite the renewed protest, Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as with its other neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means and in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.
The government stressed that international boundaries must not be altered through the use of force, describing this as a fundamental principle guiding Cambodia’s approach to its territorial disputes with Thailand.