Cambodia turns to International Court in temple land row with Thailand

Cambodia has turned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to help resolve four border disputes with Thailand, after talks between the two countries ended without agreement.

The announcement followed a two-day meeting in Phnom Penh of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), a body set up to negotiate border issues.

Cambodian officials said they would take the disputes regarding the Emerald Triangle and three ancient temples, Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Kwai, to the UN’s top court, even though Thailand has objected to this approach.

Cambodia's Minister in charge of Border Affairs, Lam Chea, told the Thai side that the decision was based on a desire for a fair and lasting legal solution.

According to him, the move would no longer allow the four contested areas to be discussed in future JBC meetings.

Despite the disagreement, both sides said the meeting had been held in a friendly atmosphere and agreed to continue working together on other parts of the 800-kilometre border.

This includes placing boundary markers and carrying out joint land surveys in areas not under dispute.

Cambodia says its claims are based on maps drawn at a 1:200,000 scale in line with treaties signed with France and Siam (now Thailand) in the early 1900s.

It has rejected any alternative maps used by Thailand, saying they are the root cause of repeated tensions.

Thailand has not accepted the ICJ’s role in the matter and says the issue should be solved through existing bilateral mechanisms.

The two countries agreed to meet again in September 2025, with Thailand hosting the next JBC session. Both sides also continue to work together through military and security committees to reduce tensions and manage cross-border cooperation.

The border issue has been sensitive for decades, with past disputes occasionally sparking armed clashes.