No Deal: 'Kra Canal' remains a pipe-dream for now

[webfact]

No Deal: 'Kra Canal' remains a pipe-dream for now
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Word of a sudden Thai-Chinese deal to cut a shipping channel across the south Thailand evaporated quickly today.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesmen today disspelled media reports in his country that the two nations had agreed in principal to construct a THB941 billion (USD28 billion) canal across the Isthmus of Kra in southern Thailand as a new shipping route to shortcut the Straight of Malacca.

Spokesman Hong Lei repreated comments made by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, reiterating China has not taken any role in the long-dreamed-of project, according to The Straights Times.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/05/20/no-deal-kra-canal-remains-pipe-dream-now


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-05-20

[khwaibah]

So the PM's comment a few weeks back to the people of Thung Bu Lang area not to protest or interfere in any work for this project and the just approved expansion of the Trang airport has nothing to do with this.

[ddavidovsky]

What's the chance that someone in government sees that wildly inaccurate map and decides to build a canal there instead?

[wileycoyote]

Disappointing

But considering the current economic situation realistic

[Basil B]

So it is built at the cost of nearly 100 Billion Bahts or as many Thai projects go, a hell of a lot more...

What's to stop Malaysia suddenly deciding the peninsular is their's???

[12DrinkMore]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

[Jedsada3]

As far as I remember, there was an agreement between Thailand and the British Empie not to build that canal.

In 189?, Rama V signed an agreement not to build a new water way to India to protect the importance of the harbour of Singapore and in counter part the British would respect the limits of the Thai territory.

Was that agreement cancelled ?

[Estrada]

No matter what the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok may say, watch this space. One of the PMs advisors who has served with me on two previous Consultancies for the Kra Isthmus Canal Project, went to China with the PM and they discussed the project with the Chinese PM and Government officials. They were interested "in principle" with the project which they view as part of their Silk Road from China to the Indian Ocean, by passing Singapore.

[hgma]

The mapping is totally of line....Isthmus of Kra is next to Ranong and it has the smallest borderline with Burma.

[Old Man River]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

The Malacca Straits are close to their limit already and this would be 10 years away. The canal could have some military benefits for China as it assumes they would finance it and retain some of the operating control. However, this project may never come to fruition.

The project to watch is the Port Bara port, when constructed, being linked to the port in Songkhla via oil and land bridges. That will help Thailand, especially when linked north and south via rail. It will also give China a reliable avenue to transport its oil shipments from the ME without going through the pirate invested waters near the Malacca Straits.

BTW, Singapore makes more money from usage of its ports than transportation fees through the Straits. Hence, this much smaller undertaking could affect Singapore's ports, but I doubt they are that worried.

[asiamaster]

The mapping is totally of line....Isthmus of Kra is next to Ranong and it has the smallest borderline with Burma.

You are correct about the name but it does look like the digging of a canal would more feasible further south due too lesser altitude of the mountain range.

[Old Man River]

As far as I remember, there was an agreement between Thailand and the British Empie not to build that canal.

In 189?, Rama V signed an agreement not to build a new water way to India to protect the importance of the harbour of Singapore and in counter part the British would respect the limits of the Thai territory.

Was that agreement cancelled ?

No, the British Empire was canceled.

[trogers]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

Won't happen but due to another reason. Thai customs do not work 24/7...

[lovinglife]

So it is built at the cost of nearly 100 Billion Bahts or as many Thai projects go, a hell of a lot more...

What's to stop Malaysia suddenly deciding the peninsular is their's???

The map shown is wrong, the actual location for this would be Ranong in the West to Chumphon in the West, so no danger of Malaysia or Islamist rebels getting involved.

[FredNL]

The mapping is totally of line....Isthmus of Kra is next to Ranong and it has the smallest borderline with Burma.

Since when can Thai read a map ???

Even when using a gps system they can't find their way.

[Guest]

If the powers that be do not pull their heads out of their arse ...
No worries about a canal ...

This will be the map soon enough ...

[chilli42]

I wonder what the net global economic benefit of this canal would be? Something close to zero I would guess. China has demonstrated will, determination and a long term self interest view in most of its internal and foreign investments. Not surprised that they won't touch this with a barge pole.

[Anthony5]

As far as I remember, there was an agreement between Thailand and the British Empie not to build that canal.

In 189?, Rama V signed an agreement not to build a new water way to India to protect the importance of the harbour of Singapore and in counter part the British would respect the limits of the Thai territory.

Was that agreement cancelled ?

You should know by now that in Thailand all agreements have 2 sides. One side that honors the agreement and another side that honors it if it suits them.

Make a wild guess which of both sides is Thailand.

[stevensg]

So later on the southern part of the canal can go to Malaysia or be their own country.

They can be a Islamic country with support of Malaysia and Indonesia,

[ratcatcher]

So it is built at the cost of nearly 100 Billion Bahts or as many Thai projects go, a hell of a lot more...

What's to stop Malaysia suddenly deciding the peninsular is their's???

The map shown is wrong, the actual location for this would be Ranong in the West to Chumphon in the West, so no danger of Malaysia or Islamist rebels getting involved.

Ranong in the West to Chumphon in the West east.

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

[tonbridgebrit]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

Singapore, an island where the Chinese call themselves Singaporeans, and they've brought in a stack of foreign workers. Are they really that powerfull ? Do they really have enough muscle to prevent China building a canal that will take Singapore out of the equation regarding ships sailing from China to Europe ? I suppose they do........

[bendejo]

I think the world powers, particularly China and the US in this case, are anticipating (if not planning) a long war in the South China Sea/western Pacific, centered around the disputed islands claimed by China and other countries. For years now China has been making aggressisve moves and Obama has been dropping hints (he even mentioned it in a State of the Union speech a few years ago). I think the only ASEAN members that would possibly side with China are Laos and Vietnam, possibly Thailand if the $$ was good.

With this in mind, that map in the OP (whether practical or not) would offer China westward sea access, in the event that the Straits or other sea lanes through Indonesia are blocked to them. Of course Thailand must cooperate with them. I would assume the deal to build the canal would include free and unhindered passage for Chinese ships for the next hundred years, at least. But deals are easily broken

[Farang99]

What's the chance that someone in government sees that wildly inaccurate map and decides to build a canal there instead?

That location in Trang/Patthalung must be twice the length of the Kra isthmus, north of Ranong!

[cnbiz850]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

Wouldn't money from China beat out Singapore money?

[The Deerhunter]

As far as I remember, there was an agreement between Thailand and the British Empie not to build that canal.

In 189?, Rama V signed an agreement not to build a new water way to India to protect the importance of the harbour of Singapore and in counter part the British would respect the limits of the Thai territory.

Was that agreement cancelled ?

No, the British Empire was canceled.

And the demise of slow sailing ships means constant fresh provisioning is not required. Only ships that need to load or offload cargo in Singapore need to go there, not like the old days when reprovisioning was so important with slow ships, lots of crew to work the sails and no refrigeration.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Won't happen.

Too much money flowing from Singapore has prevented this project from moving.

It would be a devastating blow to the Singapore shipping industry.

Won't happen but due to another reason. Thai customs do not work 24/7...

But with the canel, there may be bribe money now avaible ..