As long as the Kra Canal is dug, Thailand can replace the Strait of Malacca, make a lot of money, and is even expected to catch up with Singapore, but why has Thailand not dared to start construction after years of research?
In the global strategic map, the Strait of Malacca, as the key point of transportation in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, its status and role are irreplaceable, and it is an important maritime passage from Asia to the Middle East and Africa.
The Strait of Malacca is located in a winding waterway on the southeast coast of the Asian continent, an important waterway connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and is also the only way for ships from Europe, Africa, South Asia and East Asia to enter the South China Sea.
Due to the strategic value of the Strait of Malacca, countries have deployed naval forces here to ensure the safety of their sea lanes, which have historically been controlled by the Portuguese Empire, the Dutch colonies, and the British and later the Japanese Empire.
As one of the most important maritime energy transportation routes in Asia, the Strait of Malacca handles more than 60,000 ships every year, including oil tankers, cargo ships and other large ocean transportation vehicles.
Nearly 60% of them are Chinese cargo ships, which also shows the importance of China as an emerging economy in international trade and the huge demand for energy access.
For the littoral countries, the Strait of Malacca is not only a geographical dividing line, but also a huge economic check, and ships passing through it only need to pay a certain amount of toll to the local government every year, which brings stable income to countries along the route such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
In recent years, the seabed has become increasingly shallow due to sediment deposits, increasing the risk of passage, and the frequent occurrence of piracy poses a direct threat to passing ships.
According to the report of the International Maritime Bureau, the region has become a high-risk area for piracy attacks worldwide, and piracy is accompanied by the rampant problem of drug smuggling, which greatly threatens the security of global merchant ships and the smooth flow of international trade.
In view of the potential problems in the Strait of Malacca, a number of countries and regions have begun to study the possibility of alternative routes, and the Kra Isthmus, which is located between Chumphon and Ranong provinces in Thailand, is also a key option.
If a new canal were to be dug here, it would theoretically be possible to bypass the Strait of Malacca, thereby relieving the existing pressures and risks.
The Kra Isthmus is 190 km wide at its widest point, and 50 km wide even at its narrowest point, making it clearly not suitable for ships to cross directly from the sea.
For mega cargo ships, they still need to navigate through artificially excavated waterways, which is expensive and long-term, but in the long run, it will not only provide a new option for global shipping, but also bring overall economic benefits and safety guarantees.
If the Kra Isthmus Canal is opened, it will undoubtedly provide great convenience for the Far East trade routes of China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and other countries, which will not only significantly shorten the voyage range and reduce fuel consumption, but also solve the various problems and hidden dangers caused by the current Strait of Malacca, so as to reshape the economic and security pattern of the entire region.
However, the scale of investment required for this project is expected to exceed US$25 billion, and Thailand alone cannot afford such a high financial burden.
In addition, there is a large internal disagreement about the project in Thailand, with only some people expressing support for it, and corruption is very serious in Thailand, and many people fear that the implementation of the project will be delayed endlessly, or even become a "cash cow" for some.
More importantly, countries and regions around the Straits of Malacca, such as Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, will strongly oppose the construction of the Kra Isthmus Canal due to their economic dependence on the Straits of Malacca.
Because this could cause them to lose their current economic advantage and strategic position, especially Singapore, which could suffer huge economic losses as a result of the successful opening of the Kra Isthmus Canal, thus affecting its existing prosperity and international status.
In view of the problems and challenges mentioned above, the prospect of the Kra Isthmus Canal remains uncertain, not only as a major economic project, but also as a delicate geopolitical balance.
In this project, the attitude and decision-making of the Thai government will be the key, and at the same time, more countries will need to actively participate and discuss together to ensure the smooth implementation of this ambitious goal and make important contributions to peace and development in Asia and the world.
Source: "Why not dig the Kra Canal to replace the Strait of Malacca" The Paper
