🇹🇭 Centuries in the making: Will Thailand build a 100km canal?

Thai business leaders are pushing the government to resurrect a 400-year-old plan for a major sea link in the south.

The waterway would link the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea, with the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea.

The Thai canal would cut more than 1,000km off the journey, but it could also drastically cut into Singapore's shipping trade.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Si Kao, Thailand.

[untwerf]

Kudos to you, Al Jazeera English, you broaden my horizons every single day 👍👌👏

[シュサクかまずき]

it has no impact for Indonesia 😄
But singapore that singa, poor
...
come on thailand

[catherinehui]

It's super beneficial to businesses/jobs for locals in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. Best all round, too dangerous congestion in Malacca straits, new Thai canal, will not affect other southern countries

[Maurazio]

There has been talk about this for decades if not centuries, it's just not worth it from a financial point of view when you consider the risks. 1000 km is not enough and with fees the cost for ships would be the same. And if traffic goes down...

[loudnessjr]

As the case of suez canal, no it won't bring much benefits to the local. Thailand is doing so well at tourism, fisheries and agriculture.

[pasarbarutimur]

I don't think ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, and also Malaysia will support this canal proposal. Especially Singapore, they're so dependent on their Harbour as international hub. Singapore will lose tons of money.

[worldmedia]

I have always wondered why dont they make a canal through that narrow land which can shorten the travel time of ships travelling between east and west. And they can create a new port city in that area. Who cares about those separatist movements?! When the people in that area get rich by having jobs, they will care more about a stable life rather than fighting for separatism. It is that simple.

[syafalan]

What? Malaysia afraid this? Excuse me. We have oppurtunity to build mega port on north and east. Since the Malacca strait will not give benefit if Kra Canal exist.

[wardafarha]

As a malaysian.. i think our government need to build a new port in Langkawi and Kota Bharu.. to stay and help the economy with Port Klang too.

[heesingsia]

Hasn't the kra canal been talked about since 100 years ago?

[yeoyew]

Congratulations Thailand's kindness to gives southern part independent.

[michaellee]

This mega project will either make or break Thailand. It's a 50-50 gamble. To spent billions and the chances of success is 50-50, it doesn't make commercial sense to go ahead with such a huge project. Money is an important issue for Thailand too. Can she afford it? Will she want to borrow from China and get herself indebted like Sri Lanka?

[tsarwah_store]

Propaganda singapore..
Singapore crying 😭😭
No money came

[thfc]

Thais, we want the Thai Canal and Democracy

[loOOolxXVXxloOOol]

of course chinawill not back this project up. they already invested in malaysia...search for ecrl. its cheaper and serves the same purpose as this canal

[the_sideshifter]

Its a great project, if its implemented properly it can be the end of the violence in the south.

[kanun]

I hope my country finally approve this project, but Singapore and Malaysia would be blocking this.

[chrismathewjoseph]

0:05 I'm surprised that the sea near Andaman and Nicobar is named Andaman Sea... Interesting...
We have an Indian ocean, bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea....
That's a lot of water bodies named after us
😅

[hyouzanren]

But this canal will miss about 300 millions people worth of trading customers in singapore, malaysia and indonesia in that 1000km! I think it a bad idea to invest in it!

[ktelite]

It's good for Thailand but I don't think USA gonna stay silent and not interfere with this because you know China. Also is it a good thing to work with china for this kind of project because sri lanka surely didn't have a good time with their port now. Mube it will be different for Thailand who knows.