Cambodia Escalates Maritime Dispute with Thailand Over Oil and Gas Resources

Cambodia has formally initiated a compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve its long-standing maritime boundary dispute with Thailand in the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) of the Gulf of Thailand. This action follows Thailand's unilateral withdrawal from a 2001 memorandum of understanding that had governed joint exploration efforts between the two nations.

Background and Resource Potential

The 26,000 square-kilometre OCA has been contested since the 1970s and is believed to contain substantial hydrocarbon reserves, including between 10 trillion and nearly 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, as well as up to 700 million barrels of condensate and oil. Cambodia claims that the disputed area holds an estimated $300 billion worth of oil and gas resources beneath the seabed. Historically, both countries have awarded exploration licenses within the OCA to major companies such as Chevron, Inpex, BHP, and Enterprise Oil, but no development has occurred due to the unresolved dispute.

Legal and Procedural Steps

On Tuesday, Cambodia delivered formal notice to both Thailand and the UN Secretary-General to initiate UNCLOS's compulsory conciliation process. Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn will serve as the country's agent for the proceedings. Cambodia has appointed Danish Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen and Jean-Marc Thouvenin, secretary-general of The Hague Academy of International Law, as its conciliators. Thailand has until 23 June to appoint two conciliators of its own, after which the conciliators will select a chair to form a conciliation commission overseen by the UN Secretary-General.

Official Statements and Implications

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the step was taken to protect Cambodia's sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law, emphasizing that a peaceful resolution serves the shared interests of both countries and contributes to regional peace and stability. A consultant working with Cambodia's Foreign Ministry noted that the initiation of compulsory conciliation was prompted by Thailand's unilateral withdrawal from the key bilateral agreement governing maritime issues. Upstream has invited Thailand's Foreign Ministry to comment on Cambodia's move.