Fomicheva Elena

Prospects for the Construction of the Thai canal as a Transport Corridor in the Context of the Indo-Pacific region

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2019, №3(44), 44-56

 
Annotation: The strategic and economic maritime transport route from the Indian ocean to the Pacific Ocean is essential to meet the needs of commercial sea transport. The leading transport hub of the entire navigation system in these waters is the port of Singapore in the Strait of Malacca - the largest in the world. Naval rivalry in the South China sea inevitably raises the question of control over the Strait of Malacca. In a region once dominated by the United States, China is challenging American influence, implementing major infrastructure projects, such as "One Belt – One Road". In this regard, we can consider the revival of interest in laying the Kra Isthmus Canal in southern Thailand, which is also called the Thai Canal (Thai Klong).

Keywords: Thai Canal, One Belt – One Road (OBOR), China, Thailand, Singapore, sea transport, Indo-Pacific region