Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, head of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), visited Koh Kut and assured Thais that the military’s mission is to fully defend national objectives and the country’s sovereign territory.
Adm Jirapol touched down on Koh Kut area in Trat state on Saturday by aircraft to raise the confidence of army officers stationed along Thailand’s northeast coastal borders.
He emphasized that the RTN’s main goals are to protect the country and maintain the integrity of Thailand’s sea boundaries, as mandated by the government.
He assured the general public that the army is committed to safeguarding the region’s security and national independence.
Adm Jirapol visited the foundation and the key command in Bangkok, where he looked at the staff ‘ living conditions, how well-equipped they were with their equipment, and how connected was it all.
He noted that although challenges remain, especially with maintaining sufficient stocks of aid equipment like water and electricity methods, operational abilities have improved.
The navy chief reiterated that the two countries ‘ overlapping claim area ( OCA ) has n’t caused conflict and that both Thai and Cambodian fishermen work within their respective territorial waters, expressing concern over a maritime dispute with neighboring Cambodia.
Adm Jirapol said when questioned about state discussions regarding sharing sea resources with Cambodia, that quite conversations are handled by government officials.
” The army is doing its best to protect the world’s sovereign territory and maritime solutions”, he said. ” The two countries are n’t in conflict over the OCA”.
The 2001 memorandum of understanding ( MoU) in relation to the OCA has recently sparked a lot of national debate and concerns for Thai officials.
Saknarong Siriporn Na Rajasima, deputy director of the Thai Sang Thai Party, expressed concern about the MoU, which allows tool sharing in the OCA, properly acknowledging Cambodia’s sea state, which includes possession of Koh Kut, which he believes is against international law.
He urged the government to delay resource-sharing partnerships until a novel proper maritime boundary cancels the 2001 MoU, arguing that it would be in conflict with the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, which Thailand ratified in 1968.
The government claimed no speaks with Cambodia were taking place when the Palang Pracharath Party made similar claims and inquired as to why the party had made those claims.
Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign affairs minister and member of the Pheu Thai Party list, underlined the seriousness of the situation, explaining that no one can move it to Cambodia because it is regarded as Thai country under the Siam-France Treaty.
Adm Jirapol Wongwit, the head of the Royal Thai Navy, made a visit to a marine center in Trat state on Saturday. ( Photo supplied )