The Historical Dispute Over Koh Kood and the Boundary Agreements
Koh Kood (Kood Island), an island in Trat province, holds significant value to Thailand. The history of this island and its territorial claims has been a longstanding issue between Thailand and Cambodia, originating from the colonial era when France exerted influence over Cambodia and neighboring regions in Southeast Asia.
In 1907, Thailand and France signed the Siam-France Treaty, which designated Koh Kood as part of Thailand. Despite this formal recognition, Cambodia continued to assert interests in the maritime areas around Koh Kood in later years, leading to further disputes over maritime boundaries.
The 2001 MOU and Related Maritime Disputes
To address the overlapping claims, Thailand and Cambodia signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Overlapping Continental Shelf Claim Area in 2001 on June 18, 2001, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This MOU outlined a framework for joint discussions and collaboration in managing the overlapping continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand, where both nations claimed territorial rights.
Key Elements of the 2001 MOU:
- Dividing the Overlapping Area: The area is divided into two zones along the 11th parallel north to separate the areas for discussion:
- North of the 11th parallel: Designated as an area where the two countries would engage in negotiations to establish a formal maritime boundary.
- South of the 11th parallel: Designated as a Joint Development Area (JDA), where Thailand and Cambodia would cooperate in developing petroleum resources.
- Concurrent Negotiations: The MOU specifies that discussions regarding the boundary and joint development must proceed concurrently to ensure fairness and consistency.
- Establishing a Joint Technical Committee (JTC): This committee was set up to coordinate and manage technical aspects of the negotiations and agreements stipulated by the 2001 MOU.
Concerns and Implications of the 2001 MOU
The 2001 MOU raised concerns about Thailand’s sovereignty over Koh Kood due to Cambodia’s 1972 declaration of its continental shelf boundary, which extends near Koh Kood. However, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reassured that Koh Kood remains under Thai sovereignty and is unaffected by the agreement. The MOU primarily serves as a framework for joint resource management in overlapping areas rather than a transfer of territorial rights.
Current Status of Koh Kood
Koh Kood remains an undisputed part of Thailand, as confirmed by the 1907 Siam-France Treaty. No sovereignty changes have occurred, and the MOU only guides joint resource management in the disputed maritime area. Negotiations continue under the 2001 MOU framework to reach an agreement beneficial to both nations, with a focus on cooperation and regional stability.