Thailand and Cambodia have started a formal process through the United Nations to resolve a long-standing maritime border dispute. On Tuesday, their foreign ministers met in Singapore for the first session of a conciliation process under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This international treaty outlines rules for maritime boundaries and resource rights in coastal areas. The dispute centers on a region of the Gulf of Thailand that both countries claim contains significant natural gas and other hydrocarbon resources, making it economically valuable. The dispute escalated in June when Cambodia took the matter to UNCLOS after Thailand unilaterally canceled a 25-year-old agreement meant to resolve overlapping maritime claims. Thailand had decided to revoke the memorandum of understanding following a sharp decline in bilateral relations and armed clashes with Cambodia in 2023. The two nations had fought over territorial claims along their land border in July and December of last year, resulting in the deaths of several dozen civilians and soldiers, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. At the UNCLOS meeting in Singapore, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution, stating that it would benefit both nations and promote regional peace and prosperity. He noted that Cambodia chose to pursue the UNCLOS process as part of its commitment to international law and peaceful dispute settlement. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow echoed the importance of international law but argued that the previous agreement had failed to produce meaningful progress, as only two meetings were held over 25 years. He said Thailand is ready to work with the UNCLOS commission to find a fair and equitable solution. Despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in late December, tensions between the two countries remain, with sporadic clashes and the continued deployment of military forces along the border. While UNCLOS rulings are not legally binding, both nations are signatories to the convention. Thailand has traditionally preferred to resolve territorial disputes bilaterally, often citing past rulings that it views as unfair. One such example is a 1962 decision by the International Court of Justice that awarded Cambodia the Preah Vihear temple, a contested historical site, which has contributed to ongoing friction between the two neighbors.