Thailand Scraps KRA canal Project : China's Weak Point.

Thailand to Scrap KRA canal Project: Weakest Point of China

A canal is an Artificial waterway that is constructed by humans for the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation best examples are the Suez Canal (Red sea to Mediterranean sea Egypt) and Panama Canal (Pacific to North Atlantic Ocean).

Source: Google image

Chinese lifeline is passing through one of the busiest routes called Malacca Straight and China's main Economic zone. Most of Chinese goods pass through Malaccan Straight.

Where is Geographic location?

India's strategic location is the most important location with the Indian ocean mostly busy route from Europe, Africa, Middle east to ASIAN countries, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean. Malaccan Strait is about 2300 Km far away from Chennai, India, and 1100 Km from Andaman.

Why Malacca Is important?

Malaccan Strait is between three major countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and China's Lifeline. China buys crude oil from Venezuela, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, and its 80% of crude oil transport from the Malacca Strait. It means most of china's Economic Goods transport from Malacca Strait, not just Goods but china's warships and submarines also pass through Malacca Strait and this is the weakest point of china and the strait is 1100 Km long to pass ships. 

Andaman Nicobar island located in the Indian Ocean, northwest to Malacca, and this strait is Narrow to pass large ships. If the tension increases, so India has the key to lock Malacca. The Indian Navy has to block the upper part of the strait, and it will stop the supply to china. Also, there is another reason behind the strait is Singapore is a friend of the USA, and both country's navy do exercises together, and if the tension increases so America can block the strait getting help from Singapore. If china crosses the whole strait and took its goods from Indonesia so it will extra cost around $200B.

Why does China want to Build a KRA Canal?

Now china making its dream project BRI(Belt and Road Initiative) it will connect Asia, Africa, and Europe with land and Maritime Network along six corridors aim to improve regional integration, increasing trade, and stimulating economic growth.

KRA (Kra isthmus Canal) is part of China's BRI also known as the Thai canal and aimed to construct a big canal with Thailand and after completion of the project, China will no longer depend on Malacca.

After crossing the Bay of Bengal and crossing the KRA canal Chinese ships will reach the South China Sea. This dream is 300 years old of Thailand's King, British East India Company in China. But It is quite difficult to make because Large containers need more space and Environment problems. 

China said to make a canal with huge investment funds nearly $28Bn also it will help to the economic growth of Thailand also it will change whole geopolitics and regional alliances, but there is another two power are not happy named Singapore and Malaysia earning a large amount of money with Malacca Strait. If canal Construct once so their regional power becomes down.

What was the reason Behind the Drop?

In 2014 there was a military coup on the Thailand government and they allowed to make Canal but on 4th September 2020, there was news that Thailand Scraps KRA project for the time. 

A drop in Project's first reason is economic because it was unlike the Suez Canal and Panama Canal that would reduce a substantial amount of time or expenditure, but KRA only Beneficial to China, not the whole world and it can be China's Debt trap.

Another reason is if the canal constructs, so the Indian Navy and USA Navy's presence will become higher in the region to counter the Chinese navy and Thailand doesn't want to involve in the military issue.

Thailand's Southern part is underdeveloped, and many times riots and violence happened in south Thailand. Also, Thailand's people do not agree for the KRA canal Project wanted to concentrate its rail network to connect south Thailand.