Cambodia Demands Measures Against Thai Maritime Threats

Cambodia on Monday warned against any Thai attempt to block maritime routes in the Gulf of Thailand, calling such actions a serious violation of international law, as the border conflict between the two countries enters its ninth day with escalating tensions both on land and at sea.

Phan Rim, spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport, stated that Cambodia has diverse and interconnected maritime routes that ensure its commercial autonomy in line with international standards.

Land and Human Escalation

The clashes have resulted in the deaths of 13 Cambodian civilians and injuries to 74 others, with 405,758 people displaced and 1,039 schools closed across six border provinces, affecting 242,881 students.

Thailand has intensified its military operations with F-16 strikes, drones, cluster munitions, and tanks in areas including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Siem Reap, breaking a previous ceasefire from October 2025, according to the report. Cambodia denies any incursion into Trat province and has maintained heightened vigilance.

Maritime Threats in the Gulf of Thailand

The Thai military has reportedly ordered the interception of oil shipments and military supplies destined for Cambodia, declaring waters near Cambodian ports to be “high-risk” zones — although the Royal Thai Navy denies imposing a formal blockade pending approval by Thailand’s National Security Council on December 15.

Phnom Penh noted that the Gulf of Thailand, covering about 320,000 square kilometers and shared with Vietnam and Malaysia, falls within exclusive economic zones (EEZs) where freedom of navigation is protected by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In such waters, Thailand’s authority is limited to its 22-kilometer territorial sea, the Cambodian side emphasized.

Legal and Humanitarian Implications

Blocking shipments of food, medicine, or civilian goods would violate international humanitarian law, especially during a period of conflict affecting civilians. Analysts say this maritime escalation could disrupt Cambodia’s critical imported refined fuel supplies arriving by sea, while also threatening regional stability within ASEAN — a situation that has already caused the postponement of a planned summit of foreign ministers.

The spokesperson warned, “Cambodia is not caught off guard and is prepared to respond to any escalation.”