Date: Friday, 15 May 2025, 9-11am
Venue: AmCam Exchange, Ground Floor of Exchange Square, Phnom Penh
Concept Note
Cambodia and Thailand have been entangled with border conflict and series of diplomatic troubles in the past year. While the land areas were dominantly the battleground in the past two clashes, the maritime domain, especially the disputed overlapping claims area (OCA), is another potential of further escalation.
With reciprocal intention and a common aspiration to forge a framework that could maximize the benefits of bilateral collaboration in the maritime domain, Cambodia and Thailand formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entitled “the Area of their Overlapping Claims of the Continental Shelf” on 18 June 2001. The framework allowed for the negotiation of the overlapping maritime claims (OCA), with primary goals of jointly developing potential oil and gas resources. This would foster shared economic development and energy security for both nations while avoiding conflict over a 26,000-square-kilometer resource-rich contested area.
Recent Thailand’s unilateral decision to cancel MOU 2001 creates deeper mistrust between the two countries, increases strain in relations, violates the spirit of cooperation, hinders diplomatic efforts in seeking joint development on the OCA, and potentially exacerbates the maritime border disputes.
Following the Thai government’s decision to terminate the MOU2001, the Cambodian government decides to seek the compulsory conciliation mechanism under UNCLOS. In the foreseeable future, Cambodia and Thailand are likely to engage in legal struggles to manage the OCA to safeguard their respective national interests. This path will set stage for a significant shift in Cambodia–Thailand relations and create unwarranted long-term ramifications for the diplomatic, legal, and economic ties between the two countries.
Against this backdrop, CCRS organizes a public lecture on Cambodia-Thailand OCA dispute by examining the characteristics of the dispute as well as surrounded issues in this matter. Amb. Pou Sothirak will share his views on how issues surrounding this latest development will transpire and consequences entail.
CCRS will invite participants, from the government officials, diplomatic corps, academia, and relevant stakeholders. The public lecture will be around 2 hours, during which time Amb. Pou Sothirak and Dr. Deth Sok Udom will give presentations, followed by the Q&A session from the floor.
Program
| 8:30-9:00am | Registration |
| 9:00-9:05 | Welcoming Statement Mr. Him Raksmey, Executive Director, CCRS |
| 9:05-11:00 | Presentation by Amb. Pou Sothirak, Distinguished Senior Advisor to CCRS Moderated by Him Rotha, Deputy Director, CCRS Q&A Discussion |
| 11:00 | End of the Public Lecture |