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 passions and 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 preserve Thailand’s sea integrity, which the government has established.
He assured the general public that the army is committed to upholding international law and ensuring safety there.
Adm Jirapol visited the bottom 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 operational capabilities have improved, obstacles remain, particularly in keeping sufficient stocks of support systems like water and electricity methods.
The navy chief reiterated that the overlapping claim area ( OCA ) between the two countries has not caused conflict, and that the area is still peaceful, with both Thai and Cambodian fishermen working within their respective waters.
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 assets”, he said. ” The two countries are n’t in conflict over the OCA”.
Thai officials have recently raised concerns about the OCA-related memorandum of understanding ( MoU), which has sparked a lot of national discussion.
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 agreements until a novel proper maritime boundary removes the 2001 MoU, arguing that this would be in contravention of Thailand’s 1968 Geneva Agreement on the Continental Shelf, which was ratified by Thailand in 1968.
The government claimed no speaks with Cambodia were taking place when the Palang Pracharath Party made similar claims, and the authorities 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, explained that no one could move their island to Cambodia because it is governed by the Siam-France Treaty, which underlies the severity of the situation.
Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, the head of the Royal Thai Navy, made a Saturday visit to a marine base in Trat state. ( Photo supplied )