Thailand rejects Cambodian claims of seized border territory

Thailand’s Joint Information Centre (JIC) has rejected claims by Cambodia that Thai forces seized territory along the border. The statement was issued on September 13 by Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee, director of the JIC.

Mr. Sornchaidee said that the ceasefire line established during the recent conflict does not determine the international boundary. He urged Cambodia to present its maps, evidence and legal arguments through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the mechanism both sides have agreed to use for resolving border disputes.

He explained that the situation must be viewed in two phases: the fighting itself and the period after the ceasefire. If Cambodian forces entered areas that Thailand considers its own and used them to deploy troops or launch attacks, Thai forces had a duty to defend the territory and protect civilians. Any response should be necessary, proportionate and consistent with international humanitarian law.

Mr. Sornchaidee added that pushing opposing forces out of contested areas during the fighting should not be portrayed as evidence that Thailand had adopted a policy of invading Cambodia or seeking Cambodian territory. He noted that a joint statement signed on December 27, 2025, agreed that both sides would keep their forces at the positions held when the fighting stopped and would not advance toward the other side. The statement also made clear that those military positions would not affect the surveying or demarcation of the international boundary, which must continue through the JBC.

“A ceasefire ends fighting but does not create a new border,” he said. “The line where troops are deployed should not be treated as a new boundary.” He called on Cambodia to use the JBC mechanism rather than political statements to substantiate its claims, and said Thailand would be held to the same standard.

Mr. Sornchaidee stated that Thailand did not seek “even a square inch” of Cambodian territory, but had a responsibility to defend areas and people it considers under Thai sovereignty when they face a threat. Once the ceasefire was in place, Thailand respected the agreement and wanted disputed sections of the Thailand‑Cambodia border dispute returned to negotiations.

He concluded: “

Article and image source: thethaiger.com