China to bypass Malacca Strait by Kra Isthmus Canal in Thailand

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China to bypass Malacca Strait by Kra Isthmus Canal in Thailand
POSTED BY CHANKAIYEE2 ⋅


Map showing proposed Kra Isthmus Canal location in Thailand

The following article was translated from Chinese media:

The trade route to the Indian Ocean through the Malacca Strait has the problems of pirates, shipwrecks, haze, sediment and shoals.

Its rate of accidents is twice as high as the Suez Canal and four times higher than the Panama Canal.

An alternative shorter route is to build a canal at Kra Isthmus, Thailand. It will save shipment costs and time as the route is shortened by 1,000 km.

Due to close trade relations between China and ASEAN for years, their bilateral trade rose from $54.8 billion in 2002 to $443.6 billion in 2013. In the same period, mutual investment grew four times to an accumulated total of $100 billion.

The close relations and accumulated wealth due to economic and trade growth make people believe that the construction of Kra Isthmus is affordable now.

China’s huge state-owned LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd and XCMG, and private Sany Heavy Industry Co Ltd have taken the lead to set up a preparations group for the construction of Kra Isthmus Canal.

The 100 km artificial link to the Indian Ocean will benefit not only China and ASEAN, but also Japan and other countries’ world trade.

Source: huanqiu.com “Commencement of the Kra Isthmus Canal project: China takes the lead in building a route shorter than Malacca Strait” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese) and Wikipedia “Strait of Malacca”

Source: http://chinadailymail.com/2014/03/16/china-to-bypass-malacca-strait-by-kra-isthmus-canal-in-thailand/

-- China Daily Mail 2014-04-17

[doctorproc156]

Goodbye singapore

[Old Croc]

Singapore strongly opposes this canal as it would greatly affect their economy when shipping bypasses their country.

[Thai at Heart]

DidntThailand want to build a port in Myanmar to transport all this stuff from China coming by rail?

[canopus1969]

Singapore strongly opposes this canal as it would greatly affect their economy when shipping bypasses their country.

Tough

[givenall]

Goodbye singapore

yeah things will change again and again by the time thai government get their act together

[Kopitiam]

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Singapore strongly opposes this canal as it would greatly affect their economy when shipping bypasses their country.

Not only is Singapore opposing it for obvious reasons. Malaysia has over the years also invested a lot in their ports to rival Singapore. Don't be surprised if the project goes ahead, there will be disturbances in the south of Thailand.

[Morakot]

Pie in the sky...

[seajae]

so, they are going to carve two bloody great canals through Thailand destroying hundreds of klm of land/forest. Which other country would allow anyone to do this to their country, none I would imagine. It will save the 1,000 klm of travel and bugger up Thailand, wonder if thaksins fingers are in this pie as it is certainly not for the betterment of the country.

[Morakot]

How a Thai Canal Could Transform Southeast Asia

An idea to build a canal through southern Thailand could have broad geopolitical ramifications.

By Ankit Panda December 01, 2013

thediplomat.com

Southeast Asia’s salience as a major strategic nexus for maritime trade is well appreciated. The Strait of Malacca is the doorway from the Indian Ocean to the broader Asia-Pacific region and enables the transport of water-borne crude delivery and other strategic resources to East Asia’s many ports, from Manila to Tokyo. It’s not surprising then, that the idea of a canal through the Kra Isthmus in Thailand has been a topic of interest for seafarers, traders, and geostrategists since roughly the late-17th century.

http://thediplomat.com/2013/12/how-a-thai-canal-could-transform-southeast-asia/

Edited April 17, 2014 by Morakot

[churchill]

I like the red route better a bit more distance to Samui

[winstonc]

it doesnt even mention a quote from any thai ...have china informed them yet..i bet square face has his dirty little brownies crawling over this somewhere..

[Gunna]

Building of this canal has been talked about since 1677

Who will pay for it ?

China will, so long as they can build it with their own cheap labour and then operate it and collect the fees for the next 50 years.

In the end of little financial benefit to Thailand other than a small share of the fees and maybe China will buy some more rice..

But a very good idea so long as Thailand's ships can use it for free

[Prbkk]

..the development of transport and logistics is central to Thailand';s economic future. This project would be great

[churchill]

so, they are going to carve two bloody great canals through Thailand destroying hundreds of klm of land/forest. Which other country would allow anyone to do this to their country, none I would imagine. It will save the 1,000 klm of travel and bugger up Thailand, wonder if thaksins fingers are in this pie as it is certainly not for the betterment of the country.

I think the main route for the canal has already been planned as the new road between Krabi and Surat is straight and has space for a canal between the motorway lanes

[Trembly]

DidntThailand want to build a port in Myanmar to transport all this stuff from China coming by rail?

That was Thaksin's idea.

[FIRTH]

The Thai's aren’t going to let this happen and nor will the Americans ( unless their financing it), for same reason they don't want a connecting high speed train network to China or a highway connecting Thailand to China via Laos. China has been pushing these things for years....and they always get knocked back by the Thai's.

I think it’s pretty smart on behalf of the Thais. As soon as the doors open China has direct access to South East Asia which increases its political might, economic opportunity and military stretch. Same applies for Kra Isthmus Canal. No doubt the States are somewhere in the back ground probably advising the Thai Government.

[patjem]

DidntThailand want to build a port in Myanmar to transport all this stuff from China coming by rail?

The most likely next step will be China investing it themselves, Yangon direct to Kunming through Myanmar, according to local Chamber of Commerce folks in China I have chatted with.

[chainarong]

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Building of this canal has been talked about since 1677

Who will pay for it ?

China will, so long as they can build it with their own cheap labour and then operate it and collect the fees for the next 50 years.

In the end of little financial benefit to Thailand other than a small share of the fees and maybe China will buy some more rice..

But a very good idea so long as Thailand's ships can use it for free

I would be careful of China kindness and it's long term motivation , full autonomy for Thailand to run the cannel and collect fee's

[chainarong]

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DidntThailand want to build a port in Myanmar to transport all this stuff from China coming by rail?

That was Thaksin's idea.

Didn't the Burma kick China out for meddling it's affairs, they were going to build a hydro elect scheme, next they were sent packing and the west was invited to invest and Burma opened it's doors so to speak.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Children, children... this has been raised and discussed regularly since 1677.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Canal#History

The main thing blocking it is a feelign of unease / superstition about cutting off the Southern part of Thailand. (It might drop off or something. )

But seriously the fear is that this couldfurther embolden Southern separatists, even though the location isn't really near the troubled deep South.

Now, back to your bars.. your temples.. massage parlours..

SHoo!

Edited April 17, 2014 by WinnieTheKhwai

[55Jay]

Build vehicle tunnels with clear plexiglass, it'll be a hit with the tourists and locals a like. Dual pricing or course.

[Morakot]

'The Siamese Government undertake that no canal linking the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Siam shall be cut across Siamese territory without the prior concurrence of the Government of the United Kingdom.' --The Anglo-Thai Peace Treaty of 1946, Article 7

[worgeordie]

Not this old chestnut again,might get done with Chinese money,

and if they are allowed concession,over it,most of the land surrounding

the proposed canal was bought up by Thai speculators years ago when

it was first thought up.

regards Worgeordie

[Loles]

a very nice Chinese dream, I guess the Chinawattra family would been in this business ...

[JoeThePoster]

What's the deal? Rice? Tablets? Free entry to Chiangmai University?

[oldsailor35]

Just hope they will have to wear a life jacket when on the new canal, gotta find some way to get tea money.

[Mister Fixit]

So this is China's way of getting a toehold in (stranglehold on) Thailand ...?

[smedly]

Building of this canal has been talked about since 1677

Who will pay for it ?

China will, so long as they can build it with their own cheap labour and then operate it and collect the fees for the next 50 years.

In the end of little financial benefit to Thailand other than a small share of the fees and maybe China will buy some more rice..

But a very good idea so long as Thailand's ships can use it for free

Thailand share of the fees ?????

I would lay money on it that some corrupt people have their hands in this including Thaksin - I have absolutely no doubt.

The full details of this project need to be disclosed to the public including who is going to benefit

[noodle]

I wonder if this really makes economic sense in the current global financial fiasco.

Chopping 2 or 3 days of a voyage time might seem worthwhile but when you see the hundreds of large ships lying empty around Singapore it seems that the world has far too many of them to worry about reducing transit times.