Thailand rejects Cambodia’s border encroachment claims
The Joint Press Center on the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation issued a clarification after Phnom Penh filed a formal protest accusing Thai troops of violating Cambodian sovereignty in four border provinces—Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Preah Vihear, and Oddar Meanchey—following a Dec. 27 ceasefire.
Distorting facts may constitute a failure to comply with agreed-upon de-escalation measures, the center said, urging Cambodia to use bilateral mechanisms for transparent fact-checking instead of provocative communication.
Thai Army Spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree rejected the accusations, stating that Thai operations were limited to reclaiming areas within Thai territory that had been encroached upon by Cambodian military and civilian settlements for decades.
Thailand has filed hundreds of protests over these violations through the MOU 2000 framework, Winthai said. He suggested Cambodia’s long-term presence in these spots led to a misunderstanding of the boundary line.
Despite the friction, Bangkok reaffirmed its commitment to a diplomatic resolution and peaceful mechanisms.
