Press Briefing: Update on the Development of the Situation between Cambodia and Thailand
11:00 AM, February 5, 2026
Samdech, Royal Highness, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning!
1. On 4 February 2026, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, sent a letter to His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, in response to France’s indication of its readiness to provide relevant historical and technical documents related to international boundary between Cambodia and Thailand, should Cambodia so request.
In his letter, Samdech Thipadei conveyed Cambodia’s sincere appreciation to France for its steadfast and principled support for the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as for France’s constructive engagement in efforts aimed at facilitating the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
Samdech Thipadei also highlighted Cambodia’s high regard for France’s long-standing contributions to Cambodia’s peace, development, and national reconstruction over many decades, noting that these contributions have played an important role in strengthening Cambodia’s national capacities and in deepening the close and multifaceted partnership that the two countries share and continue to cherish.
Samdech Thipadei further underlined the importance Cambodia attaches to France’s role, not only as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, but also as a global leader and champion of international peace, global governance, international law, and multilateralism, and as a long-standing partner bound by mutual respect, shared history, and common values.
In this context, the Prime Minister requested France to consider providing technical expertise and advisory support, and to facilitate access to, or the provision of relevant historical and technical documents related to the international boundary between Cambodia and Thailand, which is a legacy of the Protectorate era.
Samdech Thipadei reaffirmed that Cambodia stands ready to work closely with France and with the international community to safeguard peace through respect for international law and through the peaceful resolution of disputes, not through the threat or use of force, and expressed his firm belief that France’s continued engagement will serve the shared objective of achieving a just and lasting solution, so that the Cambodian and Thai peoples may live side by side in peace, security, good neighbourliness, and prosperity for generations to come.
The Royal Government of Cambodia reiterates its strong commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the renunciation of the threat or use of force, and the promotion of international law and multilateralism as the foundations for regional and global peace and stability.
2.The Royal Government of Cambodia, through The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has formally protested against the emplacement of three containers on 3 February 2026 by Thai armed forces in An Seh Village, Choam Ksan Commune, Choam Ksan District, Preah Vihear Province, Kingdom of Cambodia, which obstructs access to the An Seh International Border Checkpoint.
This action which constitutes a blatant violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity may also alter the security environment in and around civilian areas, consolidate military control, or create new facts on the ground that directly undermine de-escalation efforts and further hinder the safe and dignified return of civilians to their homes and properties.
Cambodia categorically objects to this illegal and illegitimate action, which amounts to the consolidation of Thailand’s occupation of Cambodian territory. This action is contrary to the de-escalation measures set out in Item I of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on 27 December 2025, and contravenes both the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter.
Cambodia reaffirms its consistent and unwavering commitment to seeking an amicable resolution to all boundary disputes with Thailand, as with all its neighbours, through peaceful means in accordance with international law, while remaining resolute in upholding its principled position that borders must not be changed by force.
This protest constitutes an evidence that the Royal Government of Cambodia cannot accept any violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty, and is committed to resolving the border issue by peaceful means in line with the spirit of the joint declaration dated December 27, 2025, point 3 stated that both sides agree to refer to the Joint Boundary Commission to resume, at the earliest, the survey and demarcation works, in accordance with existing agreements between the two countries to achieve lasting peace along the border.
The Spokesperson for the Royal Government would like to reaffirms that Cambodia maintains its firm position in safeguarding the Cambodia-Thailand international boundary as inherited from the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, in full respect of international law principles, the principle of intangibility of frontiers (Uti Possidetis Juris), the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, the maps, and the procès-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as all relevant agreements and documents mutually agreed upon by both parties. Cambodia will not recognize any alteration of the boundary line resulting from the use of force.
