AKP Phnom Penh, March 10, 2026 --

The spokesman of the Royal Government of Cambodia has dismissed reports by Thai media claiming that Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet said talks to reclaim territory illegally occupied by Thailand could take place after the Khmer New Year celebrations.

Royal Government Spokesperson H.E. Pen Bona on Tuesday clarified that the Prime Minister had never made such a statement or posted any message on social media regarding the timing of negotiations through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

His clarification came after Thai media quoted Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow as saying that Prime Minister Hun Manet had posted that talks with Thailand on the return of the border areas would be held after the New Year celebrations.

First: The Prime Minister has never made any remarks nor posted any message on any social media platform stating that negotiations through the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanism would take place after the Khmer New Year.

Second: The position of the Royal Government of Cambodia is clear: it strictly respects and implements the spirit of the Joint Statement of Dec. 27, 2025, and other existing agreements, allowing the JBC of the two countries to resume, at the earliest, the survey and the demarcation works to resolve border issues and achieve the lasting peace along the border, without waiting until after the New Year.

“In fact, since the second ceasefire came into effect at 12:00 noon on Dec. 27, 2025, the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, representing Cambodia’s JBC, has already submitted five requests to the Thai side, asking Thailand to dispatch a joint survey team to conduct on-site measurements and work on the ground,” he underlined.

AKP