PHNOM PENH, August 25, 2026 — The Royal Government of Cambodia has lodged its strongest protest against the visit by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand to the An Seh area in Choam Ksan District, Preah Vihear Province, on August 23, 2026.

Cambodia described the visit as unauthorized and a deliberate attempt to assert illegitimate claims over Cambodian sovereign territory—an area that, according to the Cambodian government, has been illegally occupied by Thai armed forces since last year.

The Royal Government of Cambodia emphasized that no legal right can arise from an unlawful act. Therefore, it said, the alleged illegal occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory cannot be legitimized by a visit from the Thai prime minister. “The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly protests this unauthorized visit,” the statement said.

Cambodia said the visit constituted a grave violation of its sovereign territory as defined and delimited by the 1:200,000-scale maps produced by the Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam.

The government also referred to Item I of the Joint Statement issued at the third special meeting of the General Border Committee on December 27, 2025. According to Cambodia, the item explicitly prohibits provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the border.

The Royal Government of Cambodia underscored that neither a unilaterally drawn map nor any visit based on such a map can alter the internationally recognized boundary. Cambodia reiterated that it does not accept any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand. “The aforementioned visit shall not prejudice the legal rights or position of the Kingdom of Cambodia with respect to its international boundary,” the statement said.

The Royal Government of Cambodia demanded that Thailand cease such actions in the An Seh area and in any other areas that Cambodia says have been unlawfully occupied by Thai armed forces since last year. Cambodia said the demand was intended to help de-escalate the situation, foster mutual trust, facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes, and restore peace, stability and good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia–Thailand border. The protest comes as the shared border remains sensitive, with the two countries continuing to face disagreements over the interpretation and management of certain border areas.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as well as with its other neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements. The government also reiterated its principled position that borders must not be changed by force.

The statement said Cambodia’s position was intended to uphold its legal rights while supporting the restoration of peace and stability and the maintenance of good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia–Thailand border.

The latest protest highlights continuing diplomatic tensions between Cambodia and Thailand over their shared boundary. Cambodia maintains that sovereignty and border issues must be addressed on the basis of valid legal documents, historical maps, international law and existing bilateral agreements, while disputes should be resolved through peaceful mechanisms to prevent further escalation.