(Phnom Penh, Cambodia – October 17, 2025): When the Thai side attempted to distort information and profit from its encroachment on Cambodian territory along the border, the Royal Government of Cambodia responded swiftly and unequivocally. The government firmly rejected Thailand’s claim and reaffirmed its right to protest and reclaim its land in accordance with international conventions, treaties, and laws that have carried legal value since the French colonial era.
This official denial was not merely a political response—it was a powerful reaffirmation that Cambodia cannot and will never relinquish its national sovereignty or territorial integrity. The Thai claim that “the area where Thai soldiers stepped is Thai territory,” referring to land in Prey Chan and Chhouk Chey villages in Banteay Meanchey province, was categorically dismissed by Cambodia as legally baseless.
The statement reaffirmed that the border between the two nations was defined by the 1904–1907 Conventions and the official 1:200,000 scale map—documents of international legal standing.
***Cambodia Remains Patient, But Not Silent
During the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, Cambodia has consistently embraced peace as its most powerful weapon. The Royal Government has stressed that patience is not weakness, nor silence, but strength through dignity and respect for the law.
Refraining from armed confrontation is a deliberate act of national responsibility—to save lives on both sides and preserve a peaceful environment along the border.
What some perceive as Cambodia’s “patience” should not be mistaken for inaction. Rather, it reflects Cambodia’s strategy of using wisdom and international law as defensive weapons to protect its sovereignty.
The Royal Government’s statement on October 17 declared:
“Although the Royal Government of Cambodia has shown patience during the implementation of the ceasefire agreement to avoid an outbreak of weapons that could cause great disaster to the nation and people on both sides, the Royal Government of Cambodia does not give up its right to claim its national sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international conventions, treaties, and laws.”
***A Legal Denial Reflecting High Political Culture
The Royal Government’s statement reflects Cambodia’s maturity as a state governed by law, using international legal mechanisms to protect its people’s rights. Thailand’s unilateral action—erecting barbed wire fences and excavating land under the pretext of demining—constitutes a serious violation of international treaties.
Cambodia called on Thailand to respect the authority of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC)—the only legitimate body empowered to survey and demarcate the border.
The JBC was established on April 15, 2000, under a memorandum of understanding signed by senior officials of the foreign ministries of both countries. Its primary mandate is to measure and demarcate the border on the 1:200,000 scale map, based on the 1904 and 1907 Conventions.
The JBC is not a political institution, but a legal and technical mechanism established to ensure that both nations respect the Cambodian–Thai border in accordance with international law and official documents. Therefore, any territorial claims should not come from the Thai military but through the JBC framework—the only legally recognized process for resolving border disputes.
The statement further emphasized:
“Cambodia demands that the Thai side respect what has been agreed upon by allowing the JBC to convene to resolve border issues and refrain from provocative actions that could expand the conflict.”
It continued:
“The Royal Government of Cambodia firmly upholds its sovereignty and territorial integrity and absolutely rejects the unilateral declaration of the Thai military, as the military has no authority to determine national borders, and such a declaration carries no legal validity.”
This reaffirmation demonstrates that Cambodia wields law—not weapons—as its shield for peace.
***Cambodia’s Rejection Ahead of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement
This strong legal and diplomatic stance comes just days before Cambodia and Thailand are set to sign the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement, scheduled for the fourth week of October 2025 in Malaysia, with U.S. President Donald Trump serving as a witness.
The Royal Government’s denial underscores that Cambodia does not pursue peace by sacrificing sovereignty, but rather seeks peace with dignity, legitimacy, and full respect for international law.
Even as extremist voices attempt to mislead the public—spreading toxic rhetoric that “Cambodia will lose land” or accusing the government of “trading territorial integrity to maintain power”—the statement from the Royal Government on October 17 clearly reaffirms Cambodia’s unwavering position as a responsible state that honors international law and the ceasefire agreement, unlike the Thai side which has repeatedly violated it.
**In Conclusion: Patience Is Cambodia’s Weapon of Peace
Cambodia’s patience should never be mistaken for weakness. It is a reflection of wisdom, fairness, and a deep understanding of geopolitical reality. The Royal Government recognizes that true peace cannot emerge from violence or the surrender of sovereignty—it must be built upon law, legitimacy, and respect for international borders.
Cambodia can remain patient to preserve peace and prevent war, but it will never make concessions that undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Cambodia’s patience is not the silence of the weak—it is the voice of a strong nation wielding peace as its greatest weapon.
At a time when the world’s attention is fixed on the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement, Cambodia’s firm rejection stands as a reminder that the peace it seeks is not born of compromise or submission, but of dignity, legality, and the unwavering spirit of national pride.
