Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has sent a formal diplomatic protest note to the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh over the Thai navy’s seizure of a fishing boat and detention of four Cambodian fishermen in early January in the waters off Koh Kong province.
In the note sent to the Thai Embassy, the ministry said the Cambodian fishing boat was seized at 11:30 a.m. on January 6, 2026, at coordinates 11°33'30"N and 102°51'39"E, which Cambodia asserts are within its maritime waters.
According to the note, Cambodia welcomed the release of all four fishermen on January 11, 2026. At the same time, it formally requested that Thailand return the Cambodian fishing boat together with all the fishing equipment it had seized.
Cambodia strongly protested what its foreign ministry described as a “violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction” and asked Thailand to refrain from such actions in future.
By: Chinda Titi
