On May 28, a fatal border skirmish between Cambodian and Thai troops in Preah Vihear province renewed long-standing territorial tensions. The confrontation, which took place in Techo Morakot village, led to the death of a Cambodian soldier and temporarily heightened military alertness on both sides of the border. While Cambodia accused Thai forces of firing first, Thailand claimed it attempted negotiations before Cambodia responded with gunfire.
Several border checkpoints were either closed or had their operating hours reduced as a precaution. Military leaders from both countries met on May 29 and agreed to redeploy troops to their pre-incident (2024) positions in a bid to de-escalate. A meeting of the Thailand–Cambodia Joint Boundary Committee is scheduled for June 14 to further address unresolved issues.
Cambodia’s Intention to Bring Dispute to ICJ
In a parallel move, Cambodia’s National Assembly voted in favor of bringing the border dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In a letter dated June 6, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn invited the Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa to join Cambodia in submitting the cases of Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Tauch, and Ta Krabei Temples to the ICJ for adjudication.
Citing decades of unresolved claims and recent violence, Cambodia stated that bilateral dialogue alone may no longer be sufficient, and that a ruling based on international law could provide a clear and lasting resolution. DPM Sokhonn said the ICJ route would reflect both countries’ commitment to peace, stability, and ASEAN unity. Prime Minister Hun Manet reiterated that while some areas would continue to be resolved bilaterally under the 2000 MoU, others—such as the recent flashpoint zones—require legal adjudication.
Key Outcomes from the June JBC Meeting
The Cambodia–Thailand Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) convened on 14–15 June to address unresolved border issues, following heightened tensions from a fatal skirmish on 28 May. Despite recent friction, the meeting proceeded in a constructive atmosphere.
Key outcomes included agreement to:
• Approve the minutes of the 4th Cambodia–Thailand–Cambodia Joint Technical Sub-Committee (JTSC) meeting held on 14 July 2024 in Siem Reap.
• Review proposed revisions to the 2003 Terms of Reference (TOR) concerning orthophoto map production.
• Deploy a joint survey team to demarcate sections of the border between agreed posts.
• Discuss technical guidelines for surveying Sector 6, based on previous JBC discussions.
Cambodian JBC head Lam Chea reiterated Cambodia’s request for both sides to refer the temple areas of Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch, and Ta Krabei to the ICJ. He confirmed Cambodia will proceed unilaterally if Thailand continues to reject the court’s jurisdiction and that these areas are now excluded from JBC discussions.
At the same time, Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to resolving other sections bilaterally under the 2000 MoU, based on agreed legal documents and 1:200,000 scale maps from the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese Conventions. Cambodia rejected Thailand’s use of unilateral maps, calling them a continuing source of dispute.
Economic Ties
Despite these tensions, economic activity between the two nations appears unaffected in the short term. Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Thailand reached USD 1.87 billion in the first five months of 2025, up 8.3% from the same period in 2024, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).
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