Thailand on Tuesday unilaterally terminated a longstanding agreement with Cambodia to work towards joint offshore energy exploration, defying calls from its neighbour…
Thailand on Tuesday unilaterally terminated a longstanding agreement with Cambodia to work towards joint offshore energy exploration, defying calls from its neighbour to stay the course on the 25-year-old pact.
The Thai cabinet's cancellation of the agreement, which seeks to develop a framework to jointly explore hydrocarbons in parts of the Gulf of Thailand where the two countries' claims overlap, had long been expected and follows two rounds of armed conflict between them last year.
The withdrawal was an election campaign pledge of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who earlier this year rode a wave of nationalism stoked by the fierce fighting with Cambodia to become the first Thai premier to be reelected in two decades.
"Cancelling the deal is not related to the border conflict with Cambodia, but part of my policy. It has been 25 years and there has been no progress," Anutin told reporters, adding that Cambodia would be informed of the decision.
Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn expressed regret over the termination and said Phnom Penh "has no option" but to settle the boundary issue under processes outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.
"Cambodia’s decision to pursue compulsory conciliation
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