The Kra Canal is about to emerge, and the Malacca Strait is in peril; China remains silent!
Recently, as the Thai military continues to achieve victories over Cambodia - the Kra Canal project in Thailand has quietly resurfaced. If this canal is actually built and put into operation, cargo ships from East Asian countries heading to Europe, the Middle East, and the western coast of Africa will no longer need to circumnavigate the Malacca Strait, but instead directly cross southern Thailand, shortening the journey by more than 1000 kilometers.
Dao Ge gives you a calculation: saving 1000 kilometers of voyage for a large container ship can save about 30 to 50 tons of fuel, which is equivalent to several ten thousand dollars; more importantly, the sailing time can be compressed by 2 to 3 days. You can calculate it yourself, how many cargo ships enter and leave this route every day in China, that's a lot of money.
The more critical factor is the security aspect. The United States has long regarded the Malacca Strait as a key node in its Indo-Pacific strategy. Any project that could weaken its control over the strait would face resistance from the US, either implicit or explicit.
Previously, Thailand was very concerned about it, fearing getting involved. But recently, the situation has changed: on one hand, Thailand is becoming more proactive in regional affairs, for example, its tough stance on the Thai-Cambodia border issue shows that its military confidence is increasing; on the other hand, the King of Thailand visited China in a high-profile manner not long ago, and both sides reached multiple consensuses on infrastructure, energy, and regional connectivity.
It is worth noting that China has remained low-key about the Kra Canal. Official media have hardly mentioned it, and the Foreign Ministry has never made any statement. This "silent" attitude is quite intriguing. After all, China is one of the largest maritime trade countries in the world, with more than 60% of its import and export goods passing through the Malacca Strait each year.
Theoretically, any plan that can diversify shipping risks and break the "Malacca dilemma" would be in line with China's long-term interests. However, Beijing chooses not to promote it openly, avoiding provoking the United States and giving Thailand enough space for autonomy - this restraint may be the most efficient strategic coordination.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1852535504661514/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.