China wants a canal to cross Thailand into the Indian Ocean

[american2]

This is a debt trap project.  Fortunately I saw on a different site that the project has been shelved.  Some Thai officials do have some common sense.  The Chinese also want to dig a canal across Nicaragua, another debt trap project.

[Isaan sailor]

China will dig out an ancient 9-dash map, and claim the isthmus Chinese. 

[ThaiFelix]

No it is just not feasible as it would be choked up with plastic bags and bottles within 6 months!

[digger70]

9 hours ago, baansgr said:

Under the Anglo-Thai peace treaty signed in 1946, they are not allowed to build a canal without permission from the British Government....along with the fact it would offer the resurgents in the South advantages, it isn't going to happen...

Yea Right . do you really think that Thailand is going to adhere to that Treaty? 

If thailand makes up it's mind that they can Make Billions THB from the Chinese from Canal Fees they may well do give the Chinese the word to go ahead . 

There also be plenty Employment for a lot of people and machinery.

[onebir]

9 hours ago, baansgr said:

Under the Anglo-Thai peace treaty signed in 1946, they are not allowed to build a canal without permission from the British Government

Does anyone know the reason for this clause in the treaty? It seems an odd thing to include...

[animalmagic]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

There will come a time; and not far off, when the World bank, the IMF, BofIS and FED become irrelevant. China will launch its own - gold backed - currency soon.

 

What a boost for the proponents of Thailand's submarines. Able to shoot through the canal at a moment's notice.

 

Thailand should welcome this plan, or remain in the shadowy, third world.

China's own gold backed currency?  Should prove entertaining!

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Caixin/Mystery-of-2bn-of-loans-backed-by-fake-gold-in-China

[DrTuner]

16 minutes ago, onebir said:

Does anyone know the reason for this clause in the treaty? It seems an odd thing to include...

Brits probably didn't want a shorter route for enemies to come through to India. Or they wanted to keep Singapore as a main trading hub.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, animalmagic said:

China's own gold backed currency?  Should prove entertaining!

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Caixin/Mystery-of-2bn-of-loans-backed-by-fake-gold-in-China

Interesting.

 

China has the biggest gold reserves in the world*, and it is considering a cry[to as we type.

 

The biggest private hordes of gold are the FED and the Indian people; collectively.

[IAMHERE]

Would be helpful for the Thai submarine force to transit between the two major bodies of water. Fabulous kickbacks perhaps but I'd have to wonder if China will militarize the canal in order to protect their investment. Several man made islands at both entrances to protect it would also be in order.

[Reigntax]

11 hours ago, Poet said:

Engage brain.

I did not write that the construction of the Panana canal, in the Nineteenth Century, required the use of nuclear detonations. The proposed Kra canal is significantly longer and, because of the way that canal locks work over distance, must be significantly deeper. The ground they must work through is also more difficult.

For that reason, some have suggested that unconventional tools may be needed for the project to be economically viable. One of the techniques under consideration was nuclear detonations to blast through particularly solid stretches. I only mentioned this to highlight just how massive the task would be, and how little justification there is for it other than China's military needs.

You know, if you did a little research you could discover all of this for yourself.

 

The least effective and controlable explosion considered for any excavation type works would be nuclear type explosives. It would fragment the rock layers and destabilise the surrounding soils where their properties are no longer predictable.

There are plenty of suitable lower velocity explosives to undertake any type of excavation work that are safe, easy to use and dont contaminate soils and ground waters for thousands of years.

[Gee Ku]

China is not going to get the canal on the Kra isthmus. Thailand has rejected China's demand and is prepared to face the threat of anti-Muslim China supporting Muslim insurgents of the South. Muslims of Thailand know how China is treating Muslims and Islam in China's northwest.

[Susco]

10 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

 

Personally, I'd prefer if they built it like this (Sart canal, Belgium):

 

 

 I have never seen this canal, but I needed only a glance at the picture to know this is Belgium.

 

Now try to imagine how it would look if the Thais had to build something like this, and then I don't even take the surroundings in consideration.

[ChouDoufu]

9 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

If China really wants this...

 

They will front the money...but it will be a 'loan' that Thailand have to pay back at 21.5% (or whatever number China chooses) interest. Thailand's Uncle General has already sold out and will sign anything the Chinese put in front of him....and he will then do whatever they tell him to do.

 

So China will have what they want....and Thailand will pay for it.

 

 

if the above post is correct, $350k savings per tanker, surely a percentage of the transit fees would pay back the loan.

[Bullie]

11 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

I'll give China this: They dream big!

And think longterm. 1000 years means nothing.

[3NUMBAS]

they will build islands and claim sovereignty in the canals

[PETERTHEEATER]

I rate a canal as essential to national security. How else can we avoid a long detour to get our submarines into the Andaman Sea? 

[vagaboberalis]

14 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

No need for locks on the Kra canal, and there isn't a sufficient water supply to use them- just make it at sea level. The spoil could be used to create an artificial island to build the container terminal and shipyards on.

Please note, there is approximately a 3 hour tidal difference between tides Indian Ocean and Gulf of Thailand. Just refer tide table. And a variation of approximately 3meters. So 'Sea Level' is not such a simple concept.  Should make for some interesting comments in the ebb and flow of the discussion. Sailors, divers, Thai naval officers may confirm.

[Albert Zweistein]

16 hours ago, fangless said:

Total BS.

 

"The current Thai canal proposal, known as the 9A route, would involve two parallel channels—each 30 meters deep, 180 meters wide, and running 75 miles at sea level from Songkhla on the Gulf of Thailand to Krabi in the Andaman Sea."

 

Please clarify why it is more difficult that the Panama canal which did not use "small nuclear detonations" (they hadn't been invented then I know)

The Panama canal consist of several lakes connected to each other and is not at sea level. That's why on both ends locks have been constructed to level the difference and brings ships up and down. The loss of water into the oceans is compensated by the surrounding rain forest. The Suez canal has also been constructed without the use of "small nuclear detonations. Funny but the Nicaraguan government is thinking some time to construct a competitor to the Panama canal by using "small nuclear detonations".

[Albert Zweistein]

15 hours ago, jvs said:

Great for the Thai navy,buy a few subs and get a free canal!!!

Just bring over a few million Chinese grunts and start digging.(or people that need to be re educated)

 

Brings back memories from when i was 16 ,standing at the wheel of a coaster,

The guide would say,'two spokes starboard' answer,'two spokes starboard'.

 

You probably mean the pilot.

[soi3eddie]

16 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

It only takes some "gifts" from China to the Thai decision makers to make it happen. 

Time for the Thai government to up the stakes and call the shots if China wants to benefit from saving 1100kms on the shipping of goods to/from Africa and Europe. Thailand could be in a position of power for once rather than rolling over and accepting dominance from certain foreign powers 

 

[Albert Zweistein]

6 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Time for the Thai government to up the stakes and call the shots if China wants to benefit from saving 1100kms on the shipping of goods to/from Africa and Europe. Thailand could be in a position of power for once rather than rolling over and accepting dominance from certain foreign powers 

 

If you are right about saving 1100 kms it is not worth the effort. Traveling trough a canal of that length will takes a day, waiting to enter and for pilot, thugboats and so on. It takes approx a day and a half for a container vessel to sail 1100 kms so it's rather a matter of dominance than economics.

[Soikhaonoiken]

16 hours ago, cmarshall said:

Hardly relevant after Singapore's independence in 1965.  Anyway, the Thai government will never agree to a canal across the Kra Isthmus.

If China offers enough money to Thailand for this, it might happen, we all know money is number 1 .. 

[jastheace]

10 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

Sounds like another way to extend the dash line to the Indian ocean.

then maybe Indian tourists / entrepreneurs can get to Pattaya quicker and cheaper than flying... maybe..... 

then maybe this should be an Indian project, not China's.

maybe. A 'dash line' to the gulf of thailand to open new restaurants to make my fave curries.

maybe. 

no. china / india a scary mix atm. more so than russia and RotW.

 

 

 

[torturedsole]

I don't see what the problem is. The shiny new fleet of Thai submarines will also benefit from the shortcut.  

[jastheace]

32 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

I don't see what the problem is. The shiny new fleet of Thai submarines will also benefit from the shortcut.  

have you seen the 'shiny new fleet of Thai submarines' in question? Jaques Cousteau had better equipment.

PS edit...not dissing yr comment. just adding comment to it.

[fangless]

6 hours ago, Albert Zweistein said:

That's why on both ends locks have been constructed to level the difference and brings ships up and down. The loss of water into the oceans is compensated by the surrounding rain forest.

Misleading and simplistic!

The canal consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajuela Lake, acts as a reservoir for the canal.

[RocketDog]

On 9/4/2020 at 8:24 AM, Puchaiyank said:

I'll give China this: They dream big!

The Chinese don't dream, they plan and move that plan inexorably forward even if it takes decades. 

So far it's worked well for them. 

It's the frog in the eventually boiling water thing. And all the world is their frog. 

[djayz]

On 9/4/2020 at 8:16 AM, RotBenz8888 said:

It only takes some "gifts" from China to the Thai decision makers to make it happen. 

and we all know just how much they like receiving gifts. 

[EVILC]

i first heard of this canal mentioned at least 30 years ago well before china would have been involved fake news i am afraid..

[Tagged]

With Thai eyes, why should this be negative for them? I know Suez and Panama have been conflicted because of it strategic possibillities, and so will this one. But if they allie with China, something I truly believe they will, then? It will be a win win situation for them. Keep the emperior happy, and make money on it with good deals, as it will save Thailand hips of time shipping out goods as well. Strategic important. I do not see any border problems with south, that is done set finit.