The Declaration stated: The Government of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) always pursues foreign policies for peace, friendship and cooperation between countries as a foundation. Especially with neighboring countries, countries with common borders were formed during the French colonial period.
Although this journey is not without challenges, Cambodia still prioritizes peaceful resolution of border issues, even when faced with tensions and unfortunate losses in the lives of brave soldiers, those who defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The RGC's tireless dedication to peaceful solutions has been historically demonstrated, including transferring the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in Cambodia's favor in 1962 and again in 2013 in our border disputes with Thailand.
Unfortunately, at around 5:30 a.m. on May 28, 2025, an armed incident occurred when the Thai military opened fire on a location of the Cambodian army in Techo Morokot village, Morokot commune, Choam Khsan district, Preah Vihear province, an area that has long been recognized as a military base of Cambodia.
The clash killed a Cambodian soldier.
The RGC officially opposes this unreasonable use of force, which is a serious violation of Cambodia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the principles of neighborliness and friendship according to the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries.
This incident is one of many worrying developments that highlight the limitations of current dispute resolution mechanisms in resolving long-standing disagreements along our common borders.
In this situation and in the interests of ensuring a fair, impartial and sustainable solution, on June 2, 2025, the RGC decided to transfer the dispute to 4 sensitive areas - Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom Temple, Thom Temple, Ta Moan Tauch Temple and Ta Krabei Temple - to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
This decision was unanimously approved by the first General Meeting of the National Assembly and the Senate on the same day.
While pursuing a legal solution at ICJ, RGC is still committed to dialogue and diplomacy. Cambodia will continue to participate in existing bilateral frameworks and will hold the next meeting of the General Committee on land boundaries (UBC) on June 14, 2025 in Phnom Penh. However, because it has been transferred to the ICJ, the 4 fields mentioned above will not be included in the agenda of the upcoming session.
Cambodia expressed hope that Thailand will cooperate in transferring this case to ICJ together, in the spirit of fairness, building trust, long-term friendship and good neighborliness.
However, if there is no cooperation, Cambodia is ready to go independent.
The Royal Government calls on all Cambodian people to approach this issue calmly and restrainedly, and not to turn it into an issue of national affection or nationalism.
We emphasize the importance of maintaining normal relations with Thailand, especially in trade, tourism and broader areas of cooperation, for the common interests of our people.
