Phnom Penh: The Cambodian Secretariat of State for Border Affairs has said that the Thai side should send a Joint Survey Team (IST) to the actual ground to continue the surveying and temporary stakeout work and the remaining work between the two countries.
This statement by the Secretariat of State for Border Affairs comes after the Cambodian JBC sent several diplomatic notes to the Thai JBC to request a special meeting of the Cambodia-Thai JBC and to send Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to continue the actual ground work. However, the Thai side responded by requesting a subsequent postponement for reasons such as: completing internal procedures, awaiting national elections, the appointment of a new Prime Minister, the election of a new Cabinet, and the approval by the Thai Cabinet of Ministers of the appointment of the new chairman and composition of the Thai JBC.
According to a press release on June 16, 2026, although a new Thai Prime Minister has been appointed and a new Thai Cabinet has been formed and has held several meetings, the Thai government has not yet officially appointed the new chairman and members of its JBC.
The announcement stated that the delay in appointing the new chairman and members of the JBC and the failure to dispatch Joint Survey Teams (JSTs) to continue carrying out field work contradicts the content of the minutes of the special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand JBC and the spirit of the joint statement of the third special meeting of the General Boundary Committee (GBC), which gives the highest priority to the JBCs of both sides to continue surveying and demarcating the physical boundary as soon as possible and to allow people to return to their homes as soon as possible without hindrance in safety and dignity. However, on the ground, the Thai side has continued to occupy Cambodian territory and illegally act to create a new situation on the ground, despite the Cambodian side’s repeated diplomatic protests.
The State Secretariat for Border Affairs emphasizes that, based on the previously agreed procedures and working methods and in accordance with the minutes of the special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand JBC Committee dated October 22, 2025, the Thai side should dispatch the Joint Surveying Team (IST) to the ground to continue the surveying and temporary stakeout work and the remaining work, and to jointly organize the technical-level meeting.
The State Secretariat for Border Affairs reiterates that the Cambodian JBC Committee firmly opposes the illegal occupation of Cambodian territory by the Thai military and the continued violations. on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cambodia and the creation of a new situation on the ground.
