On February 8, a spokesman for the Royal Government of Cambodia reaffirmed the spirit of the Joint Statement issued after the third special meeting of the Cambodia - Thailand Joint Border Committee (GBC) on December 27, 2025, and said that Thailand's recent actions went against this agreement.
Speaking at a press conference on the latest developments along the Cambodian-Thai border held at the Council of Ministers Office, Spokesperson of the Royal Government of Cambodia - Mr. Pen Bona - said that the Joint Statement emphasized the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful means, in an atmosphere of trust, sincerity, goodwill, fairness and mutual respect, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The goal is to open a new chapter on peace and cooperation between the two countries.
According to Mr. Pen Bona, the Joint Statement reaffirmed the commitment of the two sides not to threaten or use force, to resolve disputes by peaceful means, to respect international borders and international law, in order to promote regional peace, security, stability and prosperity, on the basis of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national identity.
The statement also emphasized the commitment to fully and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement on July 28, 2025 and related agreements reached afterwards, as well as existing bilateral agreements.
The two sides expressed their determination to return to dialogue according to the previously agreed frameworks and current bilateral mechanisms, in order to end all forms of hostility and achieve substantive and long-term peace along the border.
Mr. Pen Bona said that actions such as placing containers and barbed wire, preventing Cambodian civilians from accessing their homes and property, as well as activities that change the security environment in or around residential areas, strengthening military control or creating "fait accompli" in areas that he described as being occupied by the Thai army by force, all go against the spirit of agreements and constitute acts of infringing upon Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He affirmed that Cambodia strictly complies with the GBC Joint Statement dated December 27, 2025 and related agreements, and maintains a firm stance in protecting the Cambodia - Thailand international border as determined by the Indo-Siamese border demarcation committees, respecting international law and the principle of maintaining the status quo of the border according to law (uti possidetis juris), as well as French - Siamese treaties, maps, border demarcation records and documents agreed upon by the two sides.
Cambodia does not recognize any border changes arising from the use of force, he emphasized.
