The government emphasizes advancing the UNCLOS process to clearly define maritime boundaries, not to negotiate joint development of the area, assuring the public that national interests will not be conceded to any party at all.
7 June 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, addressed concerns regarding Thailand entering the process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding overlapping maritime claims between Thailand and Cambodia. The government wishes to clarify to the public that this process involves discussion and consideration of maritime boundary delimitation according to international law principles, not negotiations for joint area development or sharing of resource benefits.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew clearly explained to the public and diplomats from over 70 countries that entering the UNCLOS process is an international legal mechanism to resolve differing views on maritime boundary delimitation, and is not related to establishing joint development zones or sharing resource benefits in the area.
The Thai government’s clear position is that establishing clearly defined and internationally recognized maritime boundaries is a fundamental prerequisite to all other matters, in order to protect the nation’s rights, sovereignty, and long-term interests. Regarding Thailand’s participation in the UNCLOS process, this does not mean Thailand accepts the other party’s claims or any approach in advance, but rather uses a global mechanism agreed upon by both countries to ensure the review is transparent, fact-based, and grounded in law.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, confirmed that every step will be taken with care, coordinating closely among foreign affairs, security agencies, and international law experts to fully safeguard Thailand’s interests.
“We ask the people to be confident that the government will not take any action that affects national sovereignty. The UNCLOS process aims first and foremost to clarify maritime boundaries according to international standards, not to develop the area jointly, nor to concede national benefits to any side,” the Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson said.