The Royal Government has decided to refer the dispute with Thailand over the four areas of Mom Bei, Ta Moan Thom temple, Ta Moan Tauch temple and Ta Krabei temple to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

In a statement made public on Wenesday June 4, 2025, the Royal Government of Cambodia said that Cambodia hoped that Thailand will cooperate in jointly referring the case to the ICJ in the spirit of fairness, trust-building, long-term friendship and good neighborliness. The statement stressed that should cooperation not be forthcoming, Cambodia stands prepared to proceed independently.

The statement stated that while pursing legal resolution at the ICJ, the Royal Government remains committed to dialogue and diplomacy and Cambodia will continue to engange through existing bilateral framework. Cambodia will host the next meeting of the Joint Commission on the Demarcation of Land Boundary (JBC) on June 14, 2025 in Phnom Penh, but given the referral to the ICJ, the four areas will not be included on the agenda of the upcoming JBC session.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has consistently pursued a foreign policy rooted in peace, friendship and cooperation among nationa, particularly with neighboring countries with whom Cambodia share border shaped during the French colonial period, said the statement. It went on to say that since gaining independence, with the exception of the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia has remained steadfast in its commitment to trnasforming these shared borders into zones of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

By H.E In Chhay!