Bangkok: The Director of the Joint Commission for International Cooperation (JIC) fiercely rebuked Cambodia, warning them not to distort the facts and accuse Thailand of seizing land. He asserted that Thailand defended its country and never encroached on anyone's territory, emphasizing that a ceasefire is not a border demarcation. He challenged Cambodia to provide evidence if they were serious.
According to Thai News Agency, Air Chief Marshal Praphas Sonjaidee, Director of the Joint Information Center for the Thai-Cambodian Situation (JIC), addressed Cambodia's accusation that Thailand used force to seize territory, stating that the facts must be clearly separated into two periods: the period of fighting and the period after the ceasefire agreement. The area of conflict did not change ownership of the territory; rather, Thailand had a duty to protect its territory and its people.
"During armed conflict, if Cambodian forces enter areas which Thailand considers to be under its sovereignty to deploy troops, use weapons, or attack Thai forces and civilians, the Thai armed forces have a duty to defend the country, protect the people, and take action to end the threat, under the principles of necessity, proportionality, and international humanitarian law."
"Therefore, the expulsion of opposing forces from areas that Thailand considers its own territory during conflict should not be misinterpreted as Thailand having a policy of aggression or seeking territory from neighboring countries."
The Director of the JIC stated that following the signing of the Joint Statement (JBC) on December 27, 2025, the situation entered a new framework. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire and maintain their troop deployments at the ceasefire positions without moving troops toward the other. At the same time, the agreement clearly stipulated that such troop deployments would not affect the surveying and demarcation of international borders, which must be carried out through the JBC mechanism.
"This is the point that needs to be fully addressed: a ceasefire is a cessation of fighting, not a treaty defining borders, and troop deployments are not new borders."
Therefore, if Cambodia disagrees on which side owns which area of land, they must present evidence, maps, and legal arguments through a mechanism acceptable to both countries, rather than making a decision based on political statements. Conversely, Thailand should not use military deployments as an excuse to determine the border either."
The JIC director reiterated that Thailand does not want even a single square inch of Cambodian territory, but at the same time, Thailand has a duty to protect its territory and people. If a threat arises in Thai territory, Thailand has the right and duty to defend itself. However, once a ceasefire is in place, Thailand respects the agreement and will bring the border dispute back to the negotiating table.
"Our principle is therefore very clear: Defend when necessary, de-escalate when possible, and settle the boundary through agreed mechanisms."
"We are not asking the international community to take sides with Thailand or Cambodia. We only ask that they consider the full timeline, the facts on the ground, and the agreements that both sides signed, using the same standards."
Ultimately, Thailand wants peace restored to the border, for the people of both countries to return to normal life, and for border issues to be resolved through law, negotiation, and bilateral mechanisms, not through the use of force.