Thailand demands Cambodian troop pullback, vows to defend sovereignty

Thailand has vowed to defend itself robustly against any incursion into its territory and has demanded that Cambodia withdraw its troops from the disputed area where a fatal clash occurred on May 28.

Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai issued a statement today, following yesterday’s talks with Cambodia’s National Defence Minister, Gen Tea Seiha, in Sa Kaeo province.

After the meeting, Tea Seiha said Cambodia had rejected Phumtham’s proposal for both countries to withdraw their troops from their current positions in or around the disputed area.

He stated that Cambodia insisted that the area in question lies within Cambodia’s sovereign territory and has long been under Cambodian control.

“Cambodia cannot and will not retreat from this position,” he declared, underscoring the country’s firm stance on defending its territorial integrity, as reported by Cambodian media.

In his statement, Phumtham said he regretted that what he described as “constructive proposals”, aimed at de-escalation and peace, were rejected. Instead, he noted, Cambodia had reinforced its military presence in the disputed area, heightening tensions.

“In response, we have no choice but to enhance our own security measures and deploy reinforcements as well,” he said.

Phumtham emphasised Thailand’s firm stance, pledging that the country will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty under any circumstances and is prepared to defend its territory with all available means.

Full support will be given to the armed forces in carrying out their duties. He also offered encouragement to military personnel currently stationed at the border, stressing that Thailand’s actions will prioritise the safety and well-being of Thai citizens living along the border, as well as the troops.

He restated Thailand’s longstanding position of not recognising the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a stance which the country has maintained since 1960.

Instead, Thailand intends to pursue a bilateral negotiation framework, under the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) serving as the platform for a peaceful resolution.

Thailand also reiterated its call for both sides to revert military deployments to the positions held in 2024, in order to reduce the risk of escalation and confrontation.

“I want to make it absolutely clear,” Phumtham concluded, “that I do not condone any actions that encroach upon Thailand’s sovereignty. The government and the military stand ready to defend and uphold the sovereignty of our nation.”