Tommy Walker in Bangkok
DW
3/1/2025
Parts of the popular island of Koh Kood are claimed by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, but the real roots of the dispute run much deeper.
Cambodia's claim 'controversial'
In the early 1900s, France ruled the area known as Indochina, comprised of several of its colonies that also included present-day Cambodia.
In 1904, Indochina ceded Koh Kood to Thailand, which was then called Siam. The border was subsequently settled with the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907.
By 1972, Indochina was defunct and Cambodia claimed its side of the maritime boundaries from the treaty included the southern part of the island. Thailand disagreed, and has said it controls all of Koh Kood.
Parts of the popular island of Koh Kood are claimed by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, but the real roots of the dispute run much deeper.
Koh Kood is popular with tourists, but its true wealth lies below the surface
Image: Peter Schickert/picture alliance
Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to the island of Koh Kood, in the Gulf of Thailand, every year. Thailand's fourth-largest island might not be as popular among foreign visitors as Phuket or Koh Samui, but its relevance is rising — and not only because it's now in the center of an international dispute.
The island is believed to be sitting atop massive gas and oil reserves. Its exploitation has been on hold due to Cambodia claiming parts of the territory, but now, with the growing demand for energy in both Asian countries, the conflict has been pushed to forefront.
The roots of the row, however, reach well back into the colonial era.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to the island of Koh Kood, in the Gulf of Thailand, every year. Thailand's fourth-largest island might not be as popular among foreign visitors as Phuket or Koh Samui, but its relevance is rising — and not only because it's now in the center of an international dispute.
The island is believed to be sitting atop massive gas and oil reserves. Its exploitation has been on hold due to Cambodia claiming parts of the territory, but now, with the growing demand for energy in both Asian countries, the conflict has been pushed to forefront.
The roots of the row, however, reach well back into the colonial era.
Cambodia's claim 'controversial'
In the early 1900s, France ruled the area known as Indochina, comprised of several of its colonies that also included present-day Cambodia.
In 1904, Indochina ceded Koh Kood to Thailand, which was then called Siam. The border was subsequently settled with the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907.
By 1972, Indochina was defunct and Cambodia claimed its side of the maritime boundaries from the treaty included the southern part of the island. Thailand disagreed, and has said it controls all of Koh Kood.
The island is only some 32 kilometers (20 miles) away from Cambodian coast
Image: Heng Sinith/AP Photos/picture alliance
Tita Sanglee, an independent analyst in Thailand, said Cambodia's definition of the boundaries within the treaty is controversial.
"Cambodia's claim was rooted in a different interpretation of the said treaty. It should be noted the 1907 treaty, like other treaties of its time, intended to address land, not maritime, boundaries. This is why the Cambodian interpretation is controversial," she told DW.
In 2001, Thailand's government reached a memorandum of understanding on the overlapping claims, with then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra discussing profit sharing from Koh Kood's energy resources with Cambodia's Hun Sen.
Ruling families too close for comfort
This willingness to compromise sounded alarm bells among conservative politicians in Bangkok. Thai nationalists were angered by Thaksin's offer to Cambodia, insisting Thailand should not concede any land or resources to its neighbor.
"The dispute manifesting itself today is because the Thai and Cambodian governments, for the first time in forever, both expressed peak political will to resume maritime boundary talks. Both sides want to utilize untapped fuel fields as they face rising import costs for energy," said Tita.
Tita Sanglee, an independent analyst in Thailand, said Cambodia's definition of the boundaries within the treaty is controversial.
"Cambodia's claim was rooted in a different interpretation of the said treaty. It should be noted the 1907 treaty, like other treaties of its time, intended to address land, not maritime, boundaries. This is why the Cambodian interpretation is controversial," she told DW.
In 2001, Thailand's government reached a memorandum of understanding on the overlapping claims, with then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra discussing profit sharing from Koh Kood's energy resources with Cambodia's Hun Sen.
Ruling families too close for comfort
This willingness to compromise sounded alarm bells among conservative politicians in Bangkok. Thai nationalists were angered by Thaksin's offer to Cambodia, insisting Thailand should not concede any land or resources to its neighbor.
"The dispute manifesting itself today is because the Thai and Cambodian governments, for the first time in forever, both expressed peak political will to resume maritime boundary talks. Both sides want to utilize untapped fuel fields as they face rising import costs for energy," said Tita.
Today, Thailand is governed by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra. Cambodia is led by Hun Manet, the son of Hun Sen. Personal ties between the ruling families seem to be strong, and for many Thai nationalists, this is a reason to be worried.
"What is concerning to many Thais is the closer personal ties between the current Thai and Cambodian leadership. This has led to skepticism about why the talks seem to be moving so quickly and whether conflicts of interests could be a factor," said Tita.
"There are many unaddressed questions, including the status of Koh Kood. By international standards, it belongs to Thailand."
No safety for activists
The two governments seem to be cooperating well in what their critics call transnational repression — activists and government critics fleeing across the border tend to find no sanctuary in either Cambodia and Thailand.
In November, Thailand deported six Cambodian activists, most of whom had been recognized as refugees under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They have been charged with treason for criticizing Cambodia's government.
Tricky balance in highly charged dispute
But the history of ties between the two countries is long and mixed, and Mark S. Cogan, associate professor of peace & conflict studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan, warned "the sovereignty question" is always at the center of conflicts between Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
"Territorial disputes have long memories with Thai nationalists," and it remains a highly charged issue "both outside of the government and within it," he added.
The Thai government has so far downplayed rifts with the Cambodian regime over Koh Kood, but both sides have questions that remain unanswered.
Tita believes there's a fine balance at play.
"It's a tricky situation," she said. "If the Cambodian government accepts that Koh Kood belongs to Thailand, it's going to have to deal with angry nationalists at home. But if any part of Koh Kood's sovereignty is compromised, Thais won't stay still. I personally foresee a deadlock."
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Tommy Walker Reporter focusing on Southeast Asian politics, conflicts, economy and society.
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