China’s Belt and Road now knocks on Thailand’s door to the north but is the kingdom on board?

[webfact]

In mid-January, the Thai cabinet gave the go-ahead for an expanded rail service into Laos and the construction of a new bridge from Nong Khai across the Mekong River. It comes after the State Railway of Thailand announced plans, last September, to upgrade its rail depot and facilities at the border station. All of this is happening as Thai traders grumble about restricted access to China for Thai fruit and produce while Chinese imports flood into markets in northern Thailand. At the same time, Bangkok must run the gauntlet between efforts to successfully exploit better rail connectivity with China, the huge cost of high-speed rail links and making sure the effects of the increased links with the expanding Chinese economy are positive in the longer term for the kingdom.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

The high-speed rail link for which a contract was signed between the State Railway of Thailand and four Chinese firms on March 29th 2021 is understood to be proceeding at a slow pace with only 4% of the project as yet complete extending from Nakhon Ratchasima. There had been uncertainty about the second phase of the proposed high-speed rail link being pushed by China linking Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai although Thai planners are now reported to have prepared their own blueprint. In December, Thai Minister of Transport, Saksayam Chidchob reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to the Thai Chinese high-speed rail link and promised that the second line, linking Bangkok with Nong Khai by hi-speed rail, would be operational by 2028. Thailand already operates an existing rail service to Nong Khai which is linked to Bangkok.

 

After years of rhetoric, negotiations and the signing of accords, the Chinese Belt and Road initiative came knocking on Thailand’s door last December with the opening of the Boten to Vientiane high-speed rail link which has suddenly opened up northern Thailand to China’s southern provinces. While Thai authorities are working to embrace the opportunity the initiative has to offer, there are already signs that the reality on the ground will, at the same time, present challenges for Thailand.

 

China’s Belt and Road initiative came to life in northeastern Thailand last December when the rail link from Boten in Laos near its border with Yunnan in China and the capital Vientiane was inaugurated on the 3rd December 2021.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/01/27/china-belt-and-road-at-thailand-door/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-01-28

 

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[law ling]

An interesting article.

 

But in so far as:

 

1. it will require Thailand to take on huge debt, and

2. that already there are problems with trade with China,

 

... I'm inclined to leave the thing alone, and put it back into the "too hard" basket.

[Jimbo2014]

Shake hands with the CCP, count your fingers afterwards.  Just ask Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Laos, Zambia and Kyrgyzstan etc...   Thailand has enough economic woes without signing on as a province of China. 

[chalawaan]

The elites are all of Chinese ancestry, including the local "Firm", you bet your life they're on board! 

It's Beijing or bust, baby!

[Isaan sailor]

And just how successful is this high speed rail connection for Laos, I wonder?

[Denim]

28 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

 Thailand has enough economic woes without signing on as a province of China. 

Yes , but the brown envelopes are mighty tempting.

[hotchilli]

47 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

Shake hands with the CCP, count your fingers afterwards.  Just ask Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Laos, Zambia and Kyrgyzstan etc...   Thailand has enough economic woes without signing on as a province of China. 

Too late, I think Thailand is stalling on the railway line because it knows China will have a main artery straight into Thailand.

But China will soon come knocking.

 

[thailand49]

Is the Kingdom on board they got their heads up their ass so far even if it was built already they wouldn't ever know it. If the CCP say jump they wouldnt even ask how high? ????

[LEXUS 400]

Thailand is for sale , for China - USA , it dosn`t matter !!.

[Edwin Cameron]

Thailand be warned, they will lie,cheat and steal to get what they want, Thailand should be able to build it without the Chinese.

[bangon04]

13 hours ago, Jimbo2014 said:

Shake hands with the CCP, count your fingers afterwards.  Just ask Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Laos, Zambia and Kyrgyzstan etc...   Thailand has enough economic woes without signing on as a province of China. 

 

[talahtnut]

Military and naval installations will follow.

[RandiRona]

Northern province of thailand will be called "Winnie the Pooh" from now on.

[alextrat1966]

1 hour ago, Edwin Cameron said:

they will lie,cheat and steal to get what they want

That’s exactly what Mike Pompeo said the CIA does ????

[humbug]

This country has signed multiple belt and road agreements with China thanks to greed and chinese busineszmen like Dhanin from CP who has been oushing Chinese expansion into the country, that means already laws are being merged with Beijing secretly, EEC or EEZ and the 20 year or some countries have 25 year National strategies which is Chinese strategies for all countries to become close to Beijing, all belt amd road countries including Thailand signed up

to really simular deals, the thaiexaminer is fooling people on behalf of Chinese expansion

[jaideedave]

5 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Military and naval installations will follow.

Does Siem Reap come to mind?

[elgenon]

19 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

And just how successful is this high speed rail connection for Laos, I wonder?

I think I heard that many Lao-owned businesses were squashed by Chinese ones. I know the local shops in Africa were wiped out by the Chinese competition.

[talahtnut]

13 hours ago, Edwin Cameron said:

Thailand be warned, they will lie,cheat and steal to get what they want, Thailand should be able to build it without the Chinese. DON'T TRUST THE CHINESE..!

Much the same as the UK and USA then.

[Knocker33]

On 1/28/2022 at 2:46 PM, Isaan sailor said:

And just how successful is this high speed rail connection for Laos, I wonder?

I like the way they call it high speed. I think top speed is about 100 kph. Then drops to 30 kph in cities.

[gearbox]

2 hours ago, Knocker33 said:

I like the way they call it high speed. I think top speed is about 100 kph. Then drops to 30 kph in cities.

Top speed is 160 kph. When you go from no speed at all for Laos to 160 kph it does feel as very high speed. I think the difficult terrain would make higher speed not financially feasible.

[gearbox]

On 1/28/2022 at 2:46 PM, Isaan sailor said:

And just how successful is this high speed rail connection for Laos, I wonder?

Would be difficult to achieve high profitability without traffic from Thailand and even Malaysia passing. However Laos can benefit indirectly with free trade zones established to use the rail for exports. The Yunnan province in China is 42 millions with way higher purchasing power than the Lao, so there are opportunities if cards are played properly.... corruption would be a problem.

[Sir Dude]

Need to be very careful when dealing with China on stuff like this... no surprise the Thais are dragging their feet. If you are going to do it Thailand, do it on your terms, plans, and pay for it yourself... then you'll keep your leverage when it's needed. If you can't do it like this, toss it in the "out" box or boot it into the long grass until it's possible.