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Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that Cambodia will continue to pursue legal and diplomatic means to resolve the border dispute with Thailand. However, a political analyst cautioned that relying on international law alone may not be sufficient and that it is a long process to resolve disputes.
Hun Manet stressed that the Cambodia–Thailand border is an internationally recognized boundary protected by international law, including the United Nations Charter.
“In order to protect territorial integrity now and in the future, Cambodia will use all means in accordance with international law,” he said at an event where he met students who scored Grade A last year.
He reiterated that Cambodia does not recognize any alteration of border lines or illegal occupation of territory through the use of force. To date, activities that were carried out by Cambodia have been to protect the people and national interest which is a priority of the government.
“All our protest and rejection of illegal occupations are carried out through diplomatic and legal means,” Hun Manet said.
Cambodia and Thailand reached a ceasefire on December 27, following weeks of deadly clashes along the roughly 800 km shared border late last year that killed over 100 people and displaced almost a million on both sides.
A ceasefire was implemented on December 27, 2025 after discussions during the General Border Committee meeting with Thailand, which follows the Joint Declaration signed in October last year.
Some 83,546 displaced persons remain in shelter camps as of February 10, including 43,969 women and 27,667 children, according to the Interior Ministry.
On February 5, Hun Manet sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron requesting France to consider providing “technical expertise and advisory support, facilitating access to, or providing relevant historical and technical documents” related to the international boundary between Cambodia and Thailand, which is a legacy of the protectorate era.
Political analyst Ly Sreysros expressed that international law is an important tool but Cambodia should not rely on it alone. Instead, national capacity should be strengthened through military modernization and governance reforms to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to national security.
“I believe using international law is one way, and it should be accelerated,” she said.
“However, the current global context shows that the ability to protect territory is critically important. Institutions such as the ICJ and the UN play roles, but past experiences show that stronger countries often take advantage of weaker ones,” Sreysros said.
“Cambodia cannot depend solely on international law,” Sreysros said. “Strengthening state capacity and prioritizing national security are essential.”
Thai forces have continued to deploy containers and construct access roads in several parts of Oddar Meanchey and Pursat provinces. The alleged occupation is within Cambodia’s territory recognized by the 1904 and 1907 French–Siamese treaty.
