It has become clear that the Thailand-Cambodia maritime demarcation dispute will be subject to an international mechanism as Cambodia has recently invoked UN-backed compulsory conciliation in response to Thailand’s unilateral cancellation of a 25-year-old maritime MoU. Here’s all you need to know about the long-standing maritime dispute and the compulsory conciliation process.

Thailand has resolved to unilaterally cancel the 2001 maritime MoU with Cambodia, moving forward with international mechanisms to address the maritime disputes. Cambodia swiftly responded, reaffirming its commitment to pursue “compulsory conciliation” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The National Security Council of Thailand (NSC) has backed the unilateral cancellation of the bilateral maritime MoU with Cambodia. Thailand will instead negotiate with its counterpart through other mechanisms to settle long-standing Thai-Cambodian maritime disputes.

As Cambodia repeatedly presses for border talks, its renewed push to convene the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) has exposed growing unease within Thailand, which insists that internal processes are prerequisites.

In foreign policy during his second term, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to secure the country's borders by building a border wall, and addressing border issues with the neighbouring countries, according to the government’s policy statement.

The Thai Navy has seized a Cambodian fishing boat and arrested its crew after they were allegedly found to have entered Thai waters illegally, prompting a protest from Cambodia that the act, in an area that Cambodia claimed as its territory, was illegitimate. The maritime boundary is one of the simmering tensions on the Thai-Cambodian land border.

Following the armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, online platforms have emerged as a new battleground for Thais. This new phenomenon is now significantly shaping public sentiment towards the war and the neighbouring country, with the traditional institution, the military, sometimes orchestrating activities behind the curtain.

Amid the intensifying tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, online nationalist sentiment in both countries has been growing stronger. Although netizens on both sides of the border are demanding tit-for-tat retaliation, many still reject the war.

The latest armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified and expanded to several contested border areas, while the death toll has risen on both sides.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns over the renewed armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, urging both countries to avoid further escalation as tensions escalated along the border.

A new wave of armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated, casting doubt over the status of the peace agreement signed just two months ago. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that Thailand will no longer enter into negotiations unless Cambodia complies with the conditions set by Thailand.

Since taking office, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has adopted a hardline stance against Cambodia, culminating in the move to suspend the two-week old peace agreement over the latest landmine casualties. What is behind this move? And most importantly, how much influence does a powerful domestic driver like the military have in shaping the government’s decision?