Thailand plans to move forward with negotiations with Cambodia to jointly explore a contested offshore area believed to hold approximately $300 billion in petroleum reserves. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that talks will proceed under a 2001 memorandum of understanding (MOU), despite opposition from nationalist groups and the Palang Pracharath Party.
Key Points:
- MOU Agreement: The 2001 MOU allows Thailand and Cambodia to negotiate over a 26,000-square-kilometer block in the Gulf of Thailand for potential joint resource development.
- Sovereignty Concerns: Some Thai groups fear that these negotiations may jeopardize Thailand's claim over the island of Ko Kut, which Cambodia included in its continental shelf claim in 1972. However, Paetongtarn assured that Ko Kut remains unaffected and will remain part of Thailand.
- Joint Development Focus: The negotiations will aim to address the overlapping claims while enabling joint exploration of an area with an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of crude oil.
- Historical Precedent: Thailand previously engaged in joint resource development with Malaysia in a similar disputed area in the Gulf of Thailand in 1979, which will serve as a model for the negotiations with Cambodia.
The renewed talks are part of Thailand's broader efforts to increase its natural gas reserves, curb electricity costs, and reduce its reliance on fuel imports. However, the negotiation process faces challenges due to historical tensions and sovereignty concerns on both sides.
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