Cambodia has issued a strong protest against Thailand's ongoing violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity along their shared border. In a statement released on August 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation detailed recent incidents that it says constitute illegal encroachment.
According to the statement, on August 6, 2026, Thai armed forces continued construction of a new military trench that intrudes into Cambodian territory in the area of the Thmar Da international border checkpoint, located in Thmar Da commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province. Additionally, on August 7, 2026, the Thai government announced plans to extend its national power grid to the Ta Krabei temple area and Phnom 333.
The ministry characterized these actions as attempts to strengthen Thailand's illegal occupation of Cambodian territory, violating obligations under existing treaties and bilateral agreements on land border demarcation. It reaffirmed Cambodia's absolute opposition to the repeated and increasingly aggressive violations by Thai armed forces, insisting that the areas in question lie entirely within the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as defined by the 1:200,000 scale maps produced by the commission for border demarcation between Indochina and Siam, in accordance with the 1904 Franco-Siamese Convention and the 1907 Treaty.
The statement further noted that these actions breach Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and Thailand on land border demarcation, signed on June 14, 2000, as well as point 1 (tension reduction measures) of the joint declaration of the third special meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), dated December 27, 2025.
Cambodia reiterated that it does not recognize any unilateral border line or territorial claims by Thailand, and that such actions will not affect its legal rights or position regarding its international border. The government demanded that Thailand immediately cease these activities in the mentioned areas and other zones illegally occupied by Thai armed forces since last year, to reduce tension, foster mutual trust, and facilitate peaceful dispute resolution, aiming to restore peace, stability, and good neighborly relations along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
In a related development, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 10:20 a.m., Cambodian liaison groups facilitated a visit by the ASEAN Observer Team for Cambodia (AOT-KH), led by its head of mission from the Philippines, to observe, verify, and report on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border at the Techo Morakot primary school in Morakot commune, Choam Ksant district, Preah Vihear province.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense stated that the school, which provides education to children, was severely attacked by Thai military forces in December 2025. The attack involved bombing from F-16 fighter jets and 155mm artillery shelling on civilian sites, nearly completely destroying the school buildings, materials, and infrastructure. As a result, all children there have been unable to resume their studies to this day.
The spokesperson affirmed that the Cambodian government and Ministry of National Defense remain firmly committed to fully and consistently implementing the joint declaration of the third special GBC meeting of December 27, 2025, the joint statement on the peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand of October 26, 2025, and other related agreements, to move toward rapid improvement and a return to lasting peace and stability.
Source: Khmer Times
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