Cambodia uses obscure UN process to resolve maritime dispute with Thailand

Cambodia is pursuing a little-known United Nations arbitration mechanism to settle a long-standing maritime boundary dispute with Thailand. The goal is to unlock an estimated $300 billion in potential oil and gas resources within the Gulf of Thailand's overlapping claims area.

The dispute covers approximately 26,000 sq km of sea, which both nations have claimed for over 25 years. A 2001 pact aimed to facilitate joint exploitation of these energy resources, but Thailand's government recently terminated the agreement. This move fulfilled an election pledge by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, following deadly land border conflicts last year.

Cambodia announced Tuesday it had launched the compulsory conciliation process under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This mechanism allows any signatory to initiate proceedings against another. Each country appoints two conciliators to a commission, which selects a chair. The commission investigates the facts and legal positions to offer non-binding recommendations.

This UN-backed process has only been successfully used once before, by East Timor to resolve a maritime dispute with Australia. East Timor initiated the process in 2016, and the two countries signed a treaty less than two years later. Cambodia has appointed its foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, as its agent, along with Danish diplomat Peter Taksøe-Jensen and French academic Jean-Marc Thouvenin to the commission. Taksøe-Jensen previously chaired the commission that mediated between East Timor and Australia.

Thailand has 21 days to appoint its conciliators. If it fails, Cambodia can ask the UN Secretary General to appoint them. Thai Prime Minister Anutin stated he was unaware of Cambodia's action and that his government would adhere to UNCLOS principles. Thailand has not yet outlined its next steps.

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