Foreign affairs chair calls for maturity in resolving Thailand–Cambodia dispute

Both Cambodian and Thai leaders should act with maturity and return longstanding issues to the negotiating table, for the benefit of citizens on both sides, said Saratsanun Unnopporn, Chair of the Thai Foreign Affairs Committee and Pheu Thai party MP.

Saratsanun gave an online interview to Thai PBS World, during her visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week.

In response to escalating tensions with Cambodia, she questioned why the border issue has been raised at this particular time.

“At the end of the day, leaders have to come back to the table and act maturely to decide what really the best is for both of us. This kind of conflict has been ongoing for years and years, but the question is, why has it escalated now?”

“This disputed claim area has always been handled by the Thai ministry of defence and they've been handling it peacefully all this time. The question to ask our counterpart is what the problem is. The tension is not benefiting anybody and, as the Thai government, we are doing our best to bring the issues back to the table,” she said.

Despite, or perhaps because of the leaked recording of a phone conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, Saratsanun noted that it is the responsibility of both governments to de-escalate tensions and pursue peaceful dialogue without recklessness.

She also emphasised that people living along the border would suffer the most if the situation worsens, adding that “war cannot resolve the current conflict. Border communities will lose their opportunities if regional political tensions continue to escalate.”

As Thailand aims to position itself as a team player in ASEAN, the key is to demonstrate a willingness to resolve disputes and strengthen regional unity, with the chair urging both governments to act in the best interests of their peoples.

By Franc Han Shih, Thai PBS World