The Thai navy chief visits Koh Kut amid ongoing tensions.

November 3, 2024

Tourist vehicles line up in Thailand’s Trat province en route to the islands of Koh Kut and Koh Chang.

Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Chief Admiral Jirapol Wongwit visited Koh Kut to reassure Thai citizens of the navy’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and protecting the country’s sovereignty. The visit underscored the RTN’s dedication to defending Thailand’s territorial integrity and preserving the nation’s maritime boundaries.

On Saturday, Admiral Jirapol arrived on Koh Kut island in Trat province via helicopter to show support and bolster the morale of navy personnel stationed at Thailand’s eastern maritime border. His presence highlighted the navy’s ongoing efforts to secure the region amidst recent tensions.

Admiral Jirapol reiterated that the RTN’s primary mission is to uphold Thailand’s security and sovereignty at sea, as mandated by the government. He emphasized the navy’s readiness to fulfill its duty of ensuring the integrity of Thailand’s waters and protecting the nation’s interests.

He reassured the public that the navy remains dedicated to safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining security in the region.

During his visit, Admiral Jirapol assessed the living conditions of naval personnel, evaluated equipment readiness, and inspected communication links between the base and the central command in Bangkok.

He observed improvements in operational capabilities but acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly with maintaining adequate supplies of essential resources such as water and electricity.

Addressing concerns over a maritime dispute with Cambodia, Admiral Jirapol emphasized that the overlapping claim area (OCA) between Thailand and Cambodia remains peaceful, with fishermen from both countries working within their respective waters without conflict. He noted that negotiations over resource-sharing in the OCA are managed by government officials, not the navy.

“The navy is fully committed to safeguarding the nation’s sovereign territory and maritime resources,” he said, adding that the two nations are not in conflict over the OCA.

Recently, Thai officials have raised concerns about the 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the OCA, which has sparked domestic debate. Saknarong Siriporn Na Rajasima, deputy secretary of the Thai Sang Thai Party, voiced concerns that the MoU, by enabling resource-sharing, implicitly recognizes Cambodia’s maritime boundary claim, including the ownership of Koh Kut—a move he argues conflicts with international law.

Expressing apprehension over potential territorial losses, Saknarong urged the government to hold off on resource-sharing agreements until a new maritime boundary can formally replace the 2001 MoU, which he believes contradicts the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, ratified by Thailand in 1968.

In response to similar assertions from the Palang Pracharath Party, the government clarified that no current negotiations with Cambodia are underway, questioning the motives behind these claims. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party list MP and former foreign affairs minister Noppadon Pattama downplayed the issue, noting that the Siam-France Treaty recognizes Koh Kut as Thai territory, and no one can transfer it to Cambodia.

Admiral Jirapol Wongwit, the Royal Thai Navy chief, visited a naval base in Trat province on Saturday.

Source: bangkokpost.com