Thai representative tells Cambodia to keep border dispute out of international meetings

A Thai diplomat used the United Nations General Assembly again to urge Cambodia to keep border issues out of international forums, while maintaining that Thailand has honoured the ceasefire agreed on December 27, 2025, even as around 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain displaced by Thailand’s occupation of Cambodian territory.

Reply at the UN

Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Thailand’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, spoke during the general debate of the 81st session on September 28. He said he was exercising his right to reply to remarks made two days earlier by Cambodian Foreign Minister Sokhonn.

Cherdchai said progress required sincerity from Cambodia, including restraint in international settings, an end to border provocations and practical cooperation on humanitarian demining and cross-border crime such as online scam networks. He added that geography is fixed, but neighbours can choose how they behave toward one another.

Displacement and legal concerns

About 20,000 Cambodian civilians, mostly in Banteay Meanchey province, are still displaced. More than 13,000 of them live in Waiting Villages set up by authorities, with residents mainly coming from Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages or the Boeung Trakuon area.

In his September 26 statement, Sokhonn called on Thailand to respect the ceasefire agreement, particularly the safe return of displaced people, and to observe international law.

Cherdchai said Cambodians had been sheltering illegally on Thai soil since the 1970s. He also said Thailand remained committed to dialogue and diplomacy, although the Cambodian side has been waiting since December for an opportunity to hold talks.

The Thai ambassador said Thailand was ready to move past tensions and make the shared border a place of prosperity based on mutual trust and peaceful coexistence.

Pressure on Cambodia’s foreign advocacy

The call for Cambodia to avoid raising border issues internationally came after the Thai prime minister himself discussed the border clashes at the United Nations on September 24, saying Thailand had never sought conflict.

Recently, Luy David, Cambodia’s ambassador to France, said an unnamed Thai diplomat had used a third party to ask Cambodia to remove the border issue from the agenda of the upcoming Francophone summit in Phnom Penh.

Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Thailand has frequently tried to discourage Cambodia from raising the border conflict in international forums. He argued that such forums can help draw attention to the situation and said Cambodia should not hesitate to bring its concerns to the wider world. He added that the kingdom should not tolerate the current situation or allow its neighbour to continue aggressive actions.