Thai Cabinet Unlikely to Approve Joint Technical Committee…

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced that the Thai Cabinet may not approve members for the Joint Technical Committee with Cambodia during its next meeting due to scheduling conflicts. This decision comes amidst nationalist calls to cancel the MoU regarding territorial claims, which officials insist does not require annulment as it merely records claims without agreed terms.

The Cabinet of Thailand is not expected to approve the participation of Thai representatives in the proposed Joint Technical Committee (JTC) with Cambodia during the upcoming meeting, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. He indicated that his attendance at the ASEAN Plus Defence Ministerial Meeting in Laos and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s possible unpreparedness to lead the Cabinet meeting, following her return from the APEC summit in Peru, make the timing impractical. Consequently, he believes it unlikely that the Cabinet will consider the Foreign Ministry’s proposal for Thai appointments to the JTC, which aims to address shared claims over areas in the Gulf of Thailand under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) established by both governments in 2001. Furthermore, in response to nationalists calling for the cancellation of MoU44, Phumtham clarified that there is neither a necessity to annul nor revoke it, as the MoU merely documented claims from both parties without constituting any agreements.

This article discusses the current status of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) between Thailand and Cambodia concerning overlapping territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand. The JTC was envisaged to facilitate discussions within the framework of an MoU signed in 2001. Recent nationalist tensions have arisen regarding the MoU, leading to calls for its annulment, which the Thai government believes is unwarranted, as the MoU does not include binding commitments but merely records claims from both nations.

In summary, the Thai Cabinet is unlikely to proceed with appointing members to the Joint Technical Committee with Cambodia due to scheduling conflicts and national commitments. The ongoing discourse around the MoU highlights the complexities surrounding territorial claims and the need for careful diplomatic engagement. The government’s stance underlines the importance of maintaining a dialogue rather than making abrupt decisions regarding longstanding agreements.

Original Source: www.nationthailand.com