Cambodia 'playing the victim', Thailand tells global mediators

Thailand accused Cambodia of playing the victim in a maritime dispute before international mediators. The hearing at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore follows two years of border clashes between the two Southeast Asian nations. In May, Thailand withdrew from a framework agreement aimed at resolving overlapping maritime claims, though it denied any connection to the land dispute.

Cambodia filed a complaint with the PCA, alleging that Thailand was using false narratives and distortion of facts to claim moral superiority. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that Cambodia hoped to return to constructive negotiations. The clashes in 2020 resulted in several casualties and displaced over a million people.

Thailand claimed it withdrew due to a lack of progress in implementing the MoU 44, a 2001 memorandum covering a resource-rich maritime area. Cambodia initiated the conciliation process after Thailand terminated the bilateral framework, citing sovereignty concerns. The PCA, established in 1899, aims to resolve disputes through legal contracts and treaties, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.