Thailand continues to reject ICJ route to solving border dispute

Thailand today restated its desire to resolve the recent border tension with Cambodia exclusively through bilateral mechanisms, rejecting calls to involve the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In an official press statement, the Royal Thai Government emphasised that discussions between Thai and Cambodian army commanders, held on May 29 following the clash the previous day at Chong Bok, resulted in a mutual agreement to address the situation using existing bilateral frameworks.

These include the Joint Border Commission (JBC), the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC).

The statement reiterated that Thailand has not recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ since 1960 and that both countries already have mechanisms in place to resolve such matters.

It underscored that efforts should be directed at containing and resolving the current incident, not expanding it, as doing so would only complicate matters.

Thailand also stressed its desire to avoid any further harm to either side and highlighted the tangible progress that has come from the JBC over the past 26 years, such as the construction of the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge (Ban Nong Ian–Stung Bot) and the new border bridge at Ban Pak Kard in Chanthaburi province.

The Thai government expressed its readiness to resume the JBC process on June 14 and voiced hope that Cambodia will demonstrate a similar willingness to work cooperatively, in the spirit of peace, stability and mutual respect.