Thailand imposes sea blockade to prevent strategic supplies from reaching Cambodia

In a major strategic move, aimed at hampering Cambodian military capabilities, Thailand’s military command has ordered a sea blockade, to prevent oil and other strategic goods from reaching Cambodia.

All sea-going vessels, be they freighters, fishing boats or oil tankers, locally or foreign registered, even if owned by Thai nationals and carrying strategic goods, will be blocked from reaching Cambodia.

The military command has also declared the maritime area around Cambodian seaports as high risk zones.

The Thai maritime area includes Thai territorial waters, defined as being within 12 nautical miles of the shoreline, according to Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a maritime expert at Kasetsart University. He explained that the Thai navy has the right to intercept foreign vessels en route to Cambodia in the Gulf if they are deemed to pose a threat to Thai national security.

Since the outbreak of renewed fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces on December 8th, several Thai commentators have questioned the government, particularly the Energy Ministry, about why Thai and foreign vessels are still allowed to deliver oil to Cambodia, which helps to sustain the Cambodian war efforts.

Meanwhile, Maj-Gen Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Thai Army, said today that Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk has made clear that, so far, there has not been an order to cease fire and troops on the ground will continue to perform their duties along the Thai-Cambodian border to disable Cambodian military capabilities.

He insisted that the Thai military will only attack military targets.