• Cambodia has initiated a UN-backed process to resolve its maritime boundary dispute with Thailand.
• The dispute spans about 26,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand.
• Thailand recently cancelled a bilateral agreement regarding maritime claims and energy exploration.
• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized the protection of Cambodia's sovereignty in accordance with international law.
• The conciliation process is non-binding, allowing for expert recommendations without compulsory adherence.

Cambodia has officially initiated a UN-backed compulsory conciliation process aimed at resolving its long-running maritime boundary dispute with Thailand. This action follows Thailand's recent unilateral termination of a 2001 agreement that had established a framework for negotiations over the overlapping claims area in the Gulf of Thailand, which is believed to hold valuable oil and natural gas resources worth around US$300 billion, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The disputed maritime region spans approximately 26,000 square kilometers, and while Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed unawareness of Cambodia's move during a press briefing, he confirmed that his government would utilize the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) framework for future negotiations, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The recent diplomatic escalation comes against a backdrop of past tensions and border conflicts between the two nations, with Cambodia's Prime Minister asserting the need to safeguard "Cambodia's sovereignty and maritime rights." Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has been appointed as the country's representative in this diplomatic process, alongside other conciliators, according to Channel News Asia.

Under the rules of UNCLOS, both nations are required to appoint conciliators to a commission that will deliberate on the facts and legal positions related to the dispute, delivering recommendations to the UN Secretary-General. However, these recommendations will not be legally binding, as highlighted by experts observing this unusual process — a tool previously employed successfully by East Timor against Australia, reports Reuters and South China Morning Post.