International Relations Dismiss Neither Border Disputes Settlement with Cambodia via ICJ

Raw News Flash

Hey there, the Thai Foreign Ministry has spilled the beans on its stance towards settling the border brawl with Cambodia. They ain't down with the ICJ and its grandiose claims on their affairs, insisting Thailand doesn't got no time for the ICJ, pal!

Thailand Kicks ICJ to the Curb

Benjamin Sukanjanajtee, the man in charge of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs (DTLA), dropped a bombshell on Monday. Seems Thailand has been fleeing from the ICJ since 1960, and they're still hanging with that stance, with 118 other countries lending them their support.

Why the cold shoulder, you ask? Well, because the ICJ can only step in when both parties wave a white flag saying they're cool with it, and Thailand's siren's song ain't showing no signs of acceptance. Yet.

ICJ Complaint Tossed Like a Salad

Looks like Cambodia—ever the troublemaker—thinks they've got the upper hand by filing a complaint with the ICJ over four prime pieces of real estate:* Ta Moan Thom temple* Ta Moan Toch temple* Ta Krabei temple* Emerald Triangle area

By Sunday night, the DTLA was left in the dark about the whole thing, neither hearing a peep from Cambodia nor a mighty gavel-bang from the ICJ. But fear not, Benjamin has already assembled an international legal dream team, ready to spring into action if the need arises.

JBC—Thailand's BFF—Stays in the Game

Speaking at a pressy thing hosted by the Department of Information, Nikorndej Balankura, the Department's Director-General and the Foreign Ministry's mascot, reiterated that Thailand's got a soft spot for the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

Nikorndej sounded a bit bummed out that Cambodia excluded the four focal points from the JBC meeting back in June, opting to take the situation to the ICJ instead. He also made it abundantly clear that Thailand's not down with the ICJ stepping in without its consent. Despite this, Nikorndej assured us that Cambodia had been formally informed of Thailand's position on the matter.

Technical Progress Amidst the Chaos

Prasat Prasatwinijchai, chair of the Thai JBC delegation, noted that although the four contentious areas were stirring the pot, the recent JBC session was the smoothest in a hot minute.

Both sides managed to agree on some technical bullpucky, like mapping 45 out of 74 border demarcation markers dating back to King Rama VI's reign and employing LiDAR tech and drones for precise surveying and mapping. Prasat clarified that Thailand didn't play ball with Cambodia's 1:200,000 scale map (too low resolution for their liking) and ain't sweating it. They're still banking on 1:50,000 scale maps for the ultimate clarity, pal.

No Action Against Cambodian Workers Here

Nikorndej set the record straight about the Thai government's intentions: they're not gunning for Cambodian migrant workers, despite the heightened tensions. He underscored that all decisions are being made at the government level and are not meant to stir up any people-to-people strife. And for the record, social media ain't where they'd choose to conduct their official diplomatic hootenanny. Those memes are strictly for the masses!

Press Conference Postponed

Nikorndej shared a bit of a backstory on the odd timing of the press conference: the Thai delegation didn't return to Bangkok until 9 PM on Sunday, which made holding the presser a no-go for that night. Instead, a written statement was released, and the official presser followed the next day.

Newspaper Fodder:

Discordia Cambodia Hackers: Thai websites get pummeled in a DDoS attack, with the Asian migos allegedly behind the nastiness.
Foreign Fraudsters Bagged: 13 sneaky foreigners nabbed for conning Australians.
Pharma Sector in a Pickle: Thailand's pharma industry caught between a rock and a hard place, grappling with growing reliance on imports and skyrocketing costs.
IMD World Competitiveness Ranking: Thailand drops like a stone,amidst widespread concern about the nation's economic competitiveness.
Formula One's Formula W: Thailand given green light to host the racing extravaganza from 2028 through 2033, courtesy of a projected THB 41bn budget.

The Gist:

The Thai-Cambodian border squabble is a complex mess of historical grudges, disputed territories, and legal battles. Thailand's been dodging the ICJ for decades, preferring to thrash out disagreements through bilateral negotiations or other means, as opposed to surrendering control of conflict interpretation to ICJ rulings. However, Thailand did engage with the ICJ during the Preah Vihear Temple case, showing a willingness to deal with international legal entities when it comes to specific situations.

[1] King, Philip. "Thailand goes to war with France (1940-1941)." History Learning Site, December 08, 2020, https://historylearningsite.co.uk/thailand-goes-war-france-1940-1941/.[2] Searight, Martin, et al. "Preah Vihear Temple: a contested history." Southeast Asia Research, vol. 28, no. 2, 2010, pp. 231-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/13649454.2010.506283.[3] "Thailand and Cambodia: BorderConflict Gives Rise to Armed Confrontations." Council on Foreign Relations, August 11, 2020, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-gives-rise-armed-confrontations.[4] "Clashes between Cambodian and Thai Troops Kill Two, Raise Tensions." Voice of America, August 23, 2020, https://www.voanews.com/breaking-news/clashes-between-cambodian-thai-troops-kill-two-raise-tensions.

In the midst of international politics, the Thai government remains steadfast in their refusal to yield jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) without prior consent, demonstrating a policy-and-legislation stance against the ICJ's involvement in domestic affairs, especially in matters regarding border disputes.
The ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has forged a uniquely contentious arena for the clash of interests, involving not only aspects of general news and current events but also tangible elements such as international technology and business like LiDAR tech and drones used for surveying and mapping during the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) sessions.
Amidst the volatility of the border issue, the health and economy of the two nations are also affected, as the bilateral tension may impact the movement of labor and commerce across the border, leading to broader implications in policy-and-legislation concerning migration, trade, and relations with neighboring countries.
In the midst of the escalating disagreement and heightened concerns about national competitiveness, the Thai government stays optimistic, consistently focusing on opportunities for technological advancement, such as the successful hosting of Formula One racing events, which will contribute to the growth and development of the national economy.