“Abhisit” says the 2001 MOU can be cancelled due to map issues and its lack of practical enforcement, warning the government to proceed with strict legal measures.
On 25 April 2026, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, party-list MP and leader of the Democrat Party, commented on the National Security Council's resolution to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding on the overlapping continental shelf claims between Thailand and Cambodia, known as the 2001 MOU. He stated that the Democrat Party has long held a position on this matter, noting that the MOU had map issues from the start and was never practically implemented.
“In principle, cancelling it poses no problem because the MOU has not progressed due to various obstacles. Continuing under the original framework would likely cause more issues. The key point is that the legal procedures and methods for cancellation must be carefully handled,” said Mr. Abhisit.
When asked about the fact that Thailand and Cambodia are parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which Cambodia often has issues adhering to, Mr. Abhisit said that international law is a universal principle all parties must respect. However, since the original agreement (the 2001 MOU) could not move forward, new negotiations will be necessary to reach a fresh agreement in the future.
Mr. Abhisit concluded by emphasizing that the government must closely monitor Cambodia's reactions to the cancellation in order to prepare appropriate responses aligned with the situation and the nation's interests.