Cambodia starts UN conciliation with Thailand over dispute

Cambodia has initiated a formal United Nations process to resolve a long-standing maritime boundary dispute with Thailand, a move that follows Thailand's recent termination of a key bilateral agreement. The action aims to unlock access to substantial undersea oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

The dispute centers on approximately 26,000 square kilometers of sea where the two nations' claims overlap, an area estimated to hold nearly 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and large quantities of oil, resources valued at around $300 billion. In 2001, the neighbors signed a memorandum of understanding to create a framework for jointly exploiting these resources. Last month, however, Thailand unilaterally terminated that agreement.

On Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced his government had formally notified Thailand and the United Nations secretary-general to begin compulsory conciliation proceedings under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He stated the step was taken to protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law.

In response, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he was not aware Cambodia...