“Adherence to international law is a vital foundation for international peace and security. Legal proceedings offer a way to resolve disputes without resort to armed conflict. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on Preah Vihear thus provided a globally legitimate basis for peaceful and just relations between Thailand and Cambodia as they navigate challenges along their shared frontier. Efforts to undermine the ICJ’s ruling or to reverse by force what the court has decided by law would cause deep ruptures-not just to Thai-Cambodian relations but also to regional and global norms that are vital for Southeast Asia’s shared future.”
YOUK CHHANG
Director, Documentation Center of Cambodia
September 7, 2025
Photo: Tim Rieser at Preah Vihear Temple, 2024. Tim is a senior aide to Senator
Peter Welch who worked for Senator Patrick Leahy for 37 years. He has been
noted as one “of the most powerful staffers in Congress presiding over U.S
foreign policy and U.S. foreign assistance.”
