Prayut denies Thai-Chinese Kra Canal plans again

BANGKOK — Thai Prime Minister ­Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed the latest round of rumours that the government plans to dig a canal across the Kra Isthmus, dampening long-standing speculation of an imminent new shipping route that could threaten Singapore’s position as the region’s maritime hub.

Citing comments by Mr Prayut yesterday (Oct 6), the Bangkok Post reported that the Chinese government had not proposed a plan for the Kra Canal. Even if it did, the Thai government would need to hold discussions to evaluate the project and its benefits, particularly in terms of national security.

The Thai Prime Minister was responding to a report by China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, that said China was considering a proposal from the Thai government to develop the canal from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea.

If realised, the project would allow ships from the Indian Ocean to access the Gulf of Thailand, bypassing the congested Straits of Malacca.

There is already a Kra Canal Committee in Thailand comprising businessmen and former officials, who conduct studies on the feasibility of the project. However, none of the governments have officially initiated the scheme.

In fact, several Thai leaders since the 1930s have suggested the Kra Canal project as an alternative shipping lane to the Straits of Malacca, linking the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Thailand.

However, the plan has never materialised, due to its enormous cost and possible damage to the communities as well as the environment in southern Thailand.

Similarly, Mr Prayut said yesterday, the government must evaluate whether the implementation of the canal plan, which would cut the country into two sections, was in fact a good idea and whether it would create problems in the country’s administration.

The latest wave of speculation over the project came after the CCTV documentary reported the Chinese government was considering a proposal to develop the canal.

It said China had taken the lead in studying proposals to fund and construct the canal, and that the project would begin soon.

The report added that the Kra Canal was part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and that it would cut short the shipping route of a journey between China and Europe or the Middle East by 1,200km, roughly three days of sailing time.

“Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has already announced that the Chinese government has no plans over the Kra Canal,” Associate Professor Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Centre, told the Bangkok Post recently.

“I thought that was the end of all the wild rumours over the Kra Canal digging, but then again some groups were still pushing to make it happen, which has caused both nations a great deal of damage.”

It is not the first time that rumours of digging the Kra Canal have surfaced recently.

In May, senior Thai officials had to deny media reports from both countries that Thailand had signed an agreement with China to develop the same shipping route.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated then that there has been no agreement between the Thai and Chinese governments on a project. AGENCIES