Advertorial China Trundles Further into Thailand's Rail Network

[ASEAN NOW Sales]

China Trundles Further into Thailand's Rail Network

 

China is expanding rail networks in its own territory and for Thailand in two separate projects.

 

Originally announced in 1997, China’s High Speed Rail expansion project led to the largest HSR in the world, spanning the entire country within a couple of decades. China now plans to add more railways between its factory-dense inland cities and ports, according to the Bangkok Post.

 

This new plan is known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to increase China’s logistical bandwidth in South East Asia. "It is based on land and sea transportation. Trains will run from inland cities, like Xi'an, to port cities in Guangxi province and unload cargo to ships that will sail to regional countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. We plan to launch operations by the end of this year," said Zhao Yue, vice-general manager of Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Company, to the press.

 

The ramifications this may have on Thailand’s economy seem positive for the consumer; cheap Chinese goods flowing in should lower prices of manufactured goods. However this seems bad for Thailand’s own consumer goods industry. It could reduce factory worker wages unless they are already at the legal minimum. The Thai government would have to recoup the losses of corporate tax through customs duties.

 

The second part of China’s logistical involvement with Thailand is assisting the expansion of the Kingdom’s existing railways. Focusing on an express railway from Bangkok to Nong Khai, China's State Railway Group Co Ltd. will assist Thailand with its construction. The motive is clear enough as this will form a de facto rail link between China and Thailand via Laos, despite there being a gap in between.

 

China will not be assisting or will be providing less assistance with Thailand’s other railway expansions. The other major project is to construct a railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, according to the Bangkok Post. China is apparently less interested in assisting with this project because of the lack of economic benefit it offers, though China is possibly providing consultation services.

 

Thailand has sought foreign assistance with Bangkok’s own public transport systems, the BTS and the MRT. Both were contracted by the German firm Siemens Mobility, who also won the contract for the Shanghai–Hangzhou maglev train line. Both the MRT and BTS systems are currently seeing rapid expansion into Bangkok’s outer suburbs. The BTS is currently undergoing its 5th expansion, providing routes from Mo Chit to Saphan Mai, and Saphan Mai to Khot. The MRT’s expansion plans are bigger, with major upgrades expected in 2020.

 

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[Burma Bill]

Will there be a day in the future when you will be able to pay your fare in yuan??

[neeray]

4 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Will there be a day in the future when you will be able to pay your fare in yuan??

Coming soon to a 7-11 near you.

[Hanuman2547]

Thailand has never been colonized but China is going to economically own Thailand.

[holy cow cm]

35 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Thailand has never been colonized but China is going to economically own Thailand.

That is fake news.

[Krataiboy]

1 hour ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Thailand has never been colonized but China is going to economically own Thailand.

They'll buy masses of Thailand's fruit, rice and veg - pushing prices here through the roof - and sell us the most powerful people-control and social engineering systems in the world.

 

Sounds like a good deal - if you are one the bloated plutocrats in Government House.