Phnom penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia has lodged another formal protest against Thailand's continued violations of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity along the shared border. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation this morning highlighted that on July 2, 2026, Thai armed forces installed barbed wire in two separate locations: the Mom Bei area, Preah Vihear province, and the Chob Ruan area, in Trapeang Prasat district, Oddar Meanchey province. These activities run counter to the de-escalation measures set out in the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on Dec. 27, 2025, and also breach Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of the Land Boundary (MOU 2000). The Royal Government of Cambodia urged Thailand to immediately cease all such actions, not only in the areas mentioned above but also in all other territories unlawfully occupied by Thai armed forces since last year. Cambodia stressed that de-escalation is essential to fostering mutual trust and facilitating the peaceful and lasting resolution of border disputes, thereby restoring peace, stability, and good-neighbourly relations along the Cambodia-Thailand border. The Ministry also reaffirmed Cambodia's continued commitment to resolving all boundary disputes with Thailand, as with all its neighbours, exclusively through peaceful means, in line with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while firmly upholding its principled position that borderlines must not be changed by force.