Sihasak clarified that rumors claiming Thailand has agreed to use UNCLOS to mediate maritime disputes with Cambodia are unfounded. He views this as Cambodia's tactic of commenting ahead of negotiations and urged Thai people to be confident that the country will not be placed at a disadvantage. He stressed that the main objective is to restore bilateral relations.
At 05:00 on 11 May 2026 GMT+7, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Puangketkaew addressed reports from a Cambodian news agency stating that Thailand had agreed to enter compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding overlapping maritime claims. He explained that negotiations under the law of the sea framework, following the cancellation of the 2001 MOU, require multiple steps. The main approach is for both parties to negotiate directly to the fullest extent first.
If no agreement is reached, other mechanisms under the convention, such as compulsory conciliation, may be considered, but both parties must consent. The nature of these mechanisms and Cambodia's stance means outcomes are recommendations, not binding decisions, so there is no cause for concern. Sihasak added that Cambodia often seeks certain results and tends to present conclusions before discussions begin, which may be their negotiation style to gain advantage.
“Such unilateral statements should not occur, and any new process under the law of the sea framework should start with openness and sincerity between the parties,” he said.
Regarding the meeting between Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, it was merely a discussion with no commitments made. Thailand emphasized that before reaching discussions on land borders or demarcation, trust must be built first, and that stage has not yet been reached.
He assured the public that negotiations will not disadvantage Thailand and reiterated that the primary goal is to restore relations, not to conduct talks aimed at granting the other side a victory. He noted that starting with such a mindset would prevent progress. “Thailand has always been open and sincere, but Cambodia's sincerity remains unclear. Discussions should be conducted as neighbors, without seeking advantage or distorting outcomes for self-interest. Instead, both sides should revise their approach to find the best solution together.”