New Thai Gov’t Adopts Fresh Approach in Offshore Oil Field Negotiations with Cambodia

• Sommana Yan
• 2 November 2023
• Uncategorized
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In a strategic pivot, the new Thai government has signalled its intent to engage Cambodia in talks regarding the overlapping development areas in the Gulf of Thailand. This shift represents a change in Thailand’s negotiation approach, previously centred on demarcating maritime borders, and comes as a part of a new strategy under the leadership of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

According to a report in the Thai state-run online newspaper, Thai PBS World on 30 October 2023, Thailand’s Minister of Energy, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, unveiled this fresh perspective. Minister Pirapan stated that Thailand will refocus its strategy towards joint oil resource development rather than pursuing border delineation discussions with Cambodia. Simultaneously, a new commission will be established to propel these discussions forward.

Minister Pirapan candidly acknowledged that settling territorial disputes on the high seas is a complex and time-consuming process, as neither country can easily relinquish claims to their borders.

The Gulf of Thailand, an area where Thailand and Cambodia share interests, has been a locus of negotiations for over two decades. These negotiations pertain to an overlapping claim area (OCA) spanning 26,000 square kilometres estimated to hold vast reserves of oil and gas, potentially amounting to millions of barrels beneath the seabed. Extracting these natural resources is expected to be a lengthy process, spanning at least eight years.

This shift in approach underscores the intricate nature of international negotiations, as both countries seek to navigate the delicate balance of maritime resources and sovereign boundaries.

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