The Thai Cabinet is unlikely to approve participation in the Joint Technical Committee with Cambodia due to scheduling conflicts of key officials. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai clarified that there is nothing to revoke in the existing memorandum of understanding between the two nations. The JTC addresses overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand dating back to a 2001 agreement.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced that the Thai Cabinet is unlikely to approve the participation of Thai representatives in the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) with Cambodia during their meeting scheduled for Tuesday. This decision is primarily due to his commitment to attend the ASEAN Plus Defence Ministerial Meeting in Laos on the same day, coupled with doubts regarding the Prime Minister’s readiness to preside over the Cabinet meeting following her recent return from the APEC summit in Peru. The JTC aims to facilitate discussions regarding overlapping territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand, which are based on a memorandum of understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001. Minister Phumtham emphasized the necessity of addressing the concerns raised by nationalist groups, who have advocated for the revocation of what they refer to as MOU44. However, he clarified that there is no provision to cancel the MoU, as it merely records the claims of both nations without establishing any binding agreements.
The Joint Technical Committee with Cambodia is a significant development aimed at resolving the issues surrounding territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand. The framework for these discussions stems from a memorandum of understanding that both countries agreed upon in 2001. The latest statements from the Thai government reflect the complexities involved in international relations and ongoing domestic pressures related to national identity and territorial integrity, particularly from nationalist factions. Additionally, significant events such as the ASEAN Plus Defence Ministerial Meeting and the recent APEC summit influence the scheduling and attention of key government officials, thereby affecting decision-making on international collaborations such as the JTC.
In conclusion, the Thai Cabinet’s decision regarding participation in the Joint Technical Committee with Cambodia remains uncertain due to competing commitments of key officials. Minister Phumtham’s remarks underline the government’s stance on the memorandum of understanding, asserting that there is nothing to revoke. The situation highlights the challenges faced by the Thai administration in balancing domestic nationalistic pressures with international diplomatic engagements.
Original Source: www.nationthailand.com
