How the JBC, GBC, and RBC Mechanisms Address the Thailand-Cambodia Border Issues

The tensions between Thailand and Cambodia continue despite the unconditional ceasefire agreement reached after midnight on 29 Jul 2023. Currently, Thailand and Cambodia have three main levels of cooperation mechanisms regarding border issues:

1. JBC

The Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) is a crucial bilateral mechanism for technical and international legal discussions. It was established under the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on land boundary survey and demarcation to conduct surveys and set land boundary markers between the two countries in accordance with the Siam-France Treaty.

The current co-chairs of the JBC are

• Mr. Prasart Prasartveera-chai, former Thai ambassador and advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on border affairs,
• and Mr. Lam Chea, Minister responsible for border affairs and head of the Secretariat of Cambodia’s Border Affairs.

An important provision in Article 5 of the 2000 MOU states: “To facilitate effective joint land boundary surveys, government agencies and their officials may cross the border within designated areas to alter the border environment, except for crossing between joint service points solely for the purpose of surveying and establishing boundary markers.”

The JBC’s operational framework was approved at the extraordinary JBC meeting on 25 Aug 2003, adopting the “Master Plan and Terms of Reference (TOR) for joint land boundary survey and demarcation” with five main steps:

• 1. Verification, repair, and establishment of 73 boundary markers.
• 2. Aerial photograph mapping (not yet started; to begin after step 1 completion).
• 3. Tracing the survey route.
• 4. Terrain inspection.
• 5. Methods for establishing boundary markers.

The JBC’s achievements include providing a platform for deep, serious bilateral discussions on border issues and facilitating the construction of the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge at Tha Kham, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province.

2. GBC

The General Border Committee (GBC) is a high-level bilateral military mechanism chaired jointly by the Thai and Cambodian Ministers of Defense. It discusses appropriate guidelines and measures to promote cooperation and maintain order in the border areas of both countries.

GBC meetings are held annually, alternating host countries. The most recent meeting, the 17th GBC, was hosted by Thailand on 1 May 2025 GMT+7.

3. RBC

The Regional Border Committee (RBC) is a bilateral military-level mechanism co-chaired by regional army commanders or equivalents. It addresses local-level management, development, and cooperation to maintain order in border areas, divided into three sectors:

• - The 2nd Army Region and Cambodia’s 4th Military Region oversee the northeastern border (Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram).
• - The 1st Army Region and Cambodia’s 5th Military Region oversee the eastern border (Sa Kaeo).
• - The Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defense Command and Cambodia’s 3rd Military Region oversee the lower eastern border (Chanthaburi, Trat).

RBC meetings are held at least twice a year, alternating hosts, with meetings for each sector as follows:

• - For the 1st Army Region and Cambodia’s 5th Military Region, Thailand hosted the 30th RBC meeting on 27 Jun 2024 GMT+7.
• - For the 2nd Army Region and Cambodia’s 4th Military Region, Cambodia hosted the 25th RBC meeting on 20 Aug 2024 GMT+7.
• - For the Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defense Command and Cambodia’s 3rd Military Region, Cambodia hosted the 26th RBC meeting on 26 Aug 2024 GMT+7, the most recent RBC meeting.

These mechanisms are intended to provide a platform for the two countries to negotiate and reach joint agreements, after which it is necessary to monitor the extent to which these agreements are implemented.

Source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs