People often mention the Isthmus of Kra and wonder why Thailand hasn't built a canal soon to replace the Strait of Malacca for shipping. So today, we're going to take a good look at that.
Kra isthmus, at the narrowest point between Indochina Peninsula and Malay Peninsula. In geography, this kind of land is called an isthmus. Because of its narrowness, such a zone facilitates the excavation of canals, especially if there are natural rivers on either side. Central America, for example, is the famous isthmus that gave birth to the Barnabas Canal.
The narrowest part of southern Thailand and the middle part of the Malay Peninsula
Kra isthmus in the south of Thailand, the middle of the Malay peninsula, Chunpeng and Nong Khai Province near the border, the narrowest place just near the river, the actual probably only more than 50 kilometers. We noticed that this place was still on the border with Burma, that the river was the border between Thailand and Burma, and that the bay was the port of Gaudang in Burma.
Carat isthmus
The Fjord River marks the boundary between Thailand and Myanmar.
Most of Thailand's most prosperous cities are located in the Gulf of Thailand, such as Bangkok and Pattaya, on the right side of the Malay peninsula; on the left side of the Malay Peninsula, on the Bay of Bengal, much of it belongs to Burma. So it would be good for Thai shipping if a canal could be built through the Kra Isthmus to cross the Bay of Bengal more quickly 39bet-đua chó-game giải trí -đá gà-đá gà trực tuyến-đánh bài.
The bigger bonus, of course, is the possibility of replacing the Strait of Malacca as the main Pacific to Indian Ocean passage. As you know, the length of the Malacca Strait is more than 1,100 kilometers, which is more than a detour distance. If you can take the canal of the Kra Isthmus, it will certainly be more convenient.
The Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, especially for energy transportation. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are all rich because of this. Singapore is also rich in a short time, and even the Philippines along the route can enjoy some oil and water. Only the Thais, whose hands reached all the way to the middle, did not get a scratch. And his ships shall go round there. Wouldn't it smell good if we dug the canal?
In fact, Thailand has long had such an idea. As early as 100 years ago, during the period of Chulalongkorn, the Bangkok dynasty, there was a plan to get rich by shipping. There is more than one plan to dig a canal. Some people think that the Kra isthmus is short or short, but it is very difficult because it is blocked by mountain passes and the terrain is not conducive to digging. So one idea was to move further south, to the vicinity of Songkhla and Sartun, where the land would be flatter and more sparsely populated, but too long. The canal would be more than 100 kilometers long from here, and the Kra isthmus only 50 kilometers.
To put it bluntly, it is not the mountain passes that are too difficult or the 100km is too long. Thailand's real problem is that it does not have the strength to support such a canal project. Real strength allows, like our ancient 1,700 kilometers of canals can also be dug. At that time, Thailand did not have the determination to dig after years of reckless financial and material investment, and had to deal with unexpected variables during the period.
The streets in Thailand
An idea is an idea. It wasn't possible before, and it's not possible now. It is fair to say that even if Thailand had the money and strength to dig the canal, they would have been equally hesitant. Now financial and material resources are not the biggest obstacle, because if Thailand decides to do it, they will not even have to pay for it themselves. They will be guaranteed by the profits of the canal. Things are different now; the Kra Isthmus Canal, as it is now known, may not be worth the cost to Thailand itself.
After carefully analyzing the following five reasons, I think Thailand will not easily think of this canal again.
The Kra Isthmus Canal is not an absolute throat
What is called a throat, like Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Barnabas Canal, this no choice of passage is the throat of the land. Through the map can be found, Southeast Asia itself is a very open archipelago, even though the Strait of Malacca is not an absolute throat, but the route is relatively economic. The Isthmus of Nacra was even less of a necessity. Even for Thailand itself, land transport is a little further south to reach its Indian Ocean ports, such as Phuket, without having to go through Malacca. And once you don't have to go, not the throat, it will be selective, the meaning is not big.
pattaya
Second, we cannot afford to offend vested interests.
The shipping in the Strait of Malacca is most directly related to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. These three countries are not only relatively powerful in Southeast Asia, but are basically separated by a strip of water.
What's more, there were behind-the-scenes factors. At that time, the Malay Peninsula was colonized by the British, who controlled the channel waterway in Singapore to do port transshipment trade, and the British made huge profits. Today, Singapore is still a member of the British Commonwealth.
Singapore
Another culprit is the United States, which has a military base near Singapore's Changi Airport where its navy and air force can dock at any time. Facing Asia's busiest international shipping lane, the largest energy transport line. The United States will not give up easily.
In this light, Thailand simply cannot afford to offend so many stakeholders, and is likely to be protested just for saying so.
Singapore, Hong Kong
Third, it is highly likely to be boycotted by countries with ulterior motives.
As mentioned above, Thailand does not have enough support base if it opens the Kra Isthmus Canal. At present, the Strait of Malacca is the lifeline of maritime energy transportation for East Asian countries and Pacific island countries. Especially important for our country, we have a relatively large energy needs, most of which are to go through Malacca. If we can open new routes in Thailand and prevent them from being cut off by other countries during special periods, we are very supportive of opening the Kra Isthmus Canal.
The Malacca Route
In addition to China, there are only a few people in urgent demand, such as Japan and South Korea, which are the other two big countries. They don't have to worry about being cut off. As an Asian ally of the US, they are in a destiny system. Not only do they not worry, if Thailand wants to open a new route, they will definitely join the UK and US in boycotting it. When more and more countries do not use the Kra Isthmus Canal, Thailand will be at a loss. The shipping volume is not full, and the cost of the canal will not be paid back. This is also a predictable situation. Except for China's support, other countries will not go, and there will be a high probability of mass resistance.
4. Fear of becoming the next Panama
If all goes well, the canal in the Isthmus of Kra becomes the most popular, replacing the Strait of Malacca 100 percent. So Thailand can't be happy about that, can it? Because the harsh reality is that when Thailand is about to get rich with the world's most famous canal, it is also about to get burned. Panama is a cautionary tale. With the canal of great importance came the invasion of the United States.
The US, which is pursuing hegemonism all over the world, blatantly invaded a sovereign country in order to control the canal and grab rights. Thailand, of course, knows that if it has a baby, the Wolf will follow, and Thailand itself is not very stable, let alone capable of confrontation. Even if the United States does not invade outright, economic sanctions will be necessary. Think of Myanmar, which has been under Western sanctions for nearly two decades. Thailand certainly does not have the courage to face it.
The United States invades Panama
Fifth, Thailand's own separatist internal problems
Either way, a canal in the middle of the Malay Peninsula would further divide southern Thailand. Close to Malaysia, it is home to the majority of Thailand's Malay ethnic group, with a population of about 2 million.
The Malays
This is a big concern for Thailand because the ethnic Malays and Thais are very different from each other in terms of customs, beliefs and so on, and they are closer to Malaysia. The consequences would be even worse if the provinces of Thainan (Songkhla, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani), where separatism is most prevalent, were left on the other side of the wide canal. Therefore, Thailand will be more careful in this respect. if the canal is dug instead of a border river, it is not the loss. How could it be so easy to cut a "gap" in Tynan before it was too late to tighten control?
Tynan Four Mansions
To sum up, I think the hope placed on the Kra Isthmus Canal in Thailand is a bit pure imagination, which is unlikely to be realized at present. Thailand has neither the strength nor the willingness to challenge the Straits of Malacca. But at some point in the future, it will become an inevitable option, and it will happen because the natural conditions of the canal have always been there.