Thailand and Cambodia agree confidence-building measures in maritime talks

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed confidence-building measures during negotiations over their overlapping maritime claims, according to Cambodia’s foreign ministry. The next round of talks is scheduled for 24–27 November in Kuala Lumpur.

The agreement came during a five-day meeting in The Hague from 14 to 18 October, the second session in a conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It concerns the conduct of the negotiations, rather than a settlement of the maritime boundary.

Measures to support negotiations

Cambodia’s foreign ministry said the measures were intended to strengthen mutual trust and help the countries reach an equitable, amicable solution under international law. Among them was recognition that both sides could issue statements to defend their legitimate rights or correct factual misinformation and disinformation.

According to the ministry’s account, the Conciliation Commission urged both governments to implement the measures fully. It also noted that earlier arrangements and measures had not been fully implemented and called on both countries to honour those commitments to support constructive negotiations.

The available accounts do not provide a complete list of the new measures or identify all the outstanding commitments. Cambodia’s ministry said the commission would issue its own statement on the meeting’s outcome in due course.

Thailand stresses maritime focus

Thailand has maintained that the conciliation process must focus solely on delimiting the maritime boundary.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on 18 October that the Hague meeting had concentrated on legal and technical issues, according to Khaosod English. The commission had asked both countries to submit evidence and explain the legal principles supporting their claims concerning continental shelf and territorial sea boundaries.

Sihasak also described proposed confidence-building measures, including refraining from accusations or statements in international forums that could undermine conciliation, and avoiding actions that might lead to confrontation.

Those proposals are distinct from the provision outlined in Cambodia’s statement recognising each side’s right to defend its position publicly. No consolidated text was provided in the accounts, leaving the full wording accepted by both governments unclear.

Overlapping claims and energy interests

The dispute concerns overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand, an area believed to contain substantial natural gas and other hydrocarbon resources.

CamboJA reported that Cambodia initiated the UNCLOS process in June after Thailand scrapped a 2001 memorandum of understanding covering negotiations over overlapping claims and joint oil and gas development. Talks envisaged under that framework had stalled for years.

The maritime negotiations are taking place amid strained bilateral relations following two bouts of deadly land-border clashes the previous year. Thailand’s stated position is that the current conciliation must remain focused on the maritime boundary.

Next round in Kuala Lumpur

The first conciliation session, held in Singapore, concluded on 16 September. Cambodia’s delegation at the second meeting in The Hague was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

The Cambodian delegation thanked the commission and the Permanent Court of Arbitration for facilitating the discussions.

The third meeting is scheduled for Kuala Lumpur from 24 to 27 November. No final maritime boundary or new arrangement for joint exploitation of offshore resources was announced following the Hague talks.