The history of the Kela Canal

The future of the Crater Canyon Canal Thailand will dig a Crater Canyon almost every year. This is an old topic. Some people alarmist that this canal may make Singapore's prosperous seaport go into history, and Singapore will encounter the same fate as Mauritius, a southern African island country. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, Mauritius was one of the most prosperous island countries in the world.

Recently, some media in China and Singapore have been talking about the Kela Canal, but Thailand has been almost silent about it for nearly half a year. Channel scheme 10. It is reported that there was a motion to dig this canal as early as17th century.

It was really put forward in the period of King V of Bangkok dynasty more than 100 years ago. King Chulalongkorn V is a king who advocates innovation. He visited Europe and introduced advanced western technology to Thailand.

At that time, the international shipping industry had a considerable scale, so the idea of digging the Kela Canal to make the shipping channel between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean convenient came into being. But at that time, it was not fashionable for international cooperation to set up mega-projects, and Thailand alone was by no means competent.

What followed was World War I, World War II, the Cold War and the Indo-China War, which made Thailand even more indifferent to this matter. In recent years, the topic of digging the Kela Canal has been brought up again, and a solid investigation and demonstration has really begun.

The proposed Kela Canal has a total length of 102km, a width of 400 meters and a water depth of 25 meters. It is a two-way channel canal that spans the Kela isthmus in southern Thailand. Kela isthmus is a narrow strip in southern Thailand, connecting Indochina Peninsula in the north and Malay Peninsula in the south. About 400 kilometers south of the isthmus (between 7 degrees north latitude and 10 degrees north latitude) are all Thai territory, with a narrowest point of more than 50 kilometers and a widest point of about 190 kilometers. It borders the Gulf of Thailand (Siam Bay) in the east and the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean in the east. West to the Andaman Sea and west to the Indian Ocean; The southern end borders Malaysia.

After the completion of this canal, ships can directly enter the Gulf of Thailand in the Pacific Ocean from the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean without crossing the Straits of Malacca and bypassing Malaysia and Singapore. * * According to the schemes of relevant institutions in Thailand and Japan, a scheme of 10 river course was designed on a 400km long and narrow river section.

Although some schemes have short rivers, it is difficult to construct them through Phuket Mountain or Luanshan Mountain. The unified opinion tends to excavate from the south side of the narrow section, with a total length of112km, passing through Songkhla and Shadun. Although the river is long, the terrain is relatively flat, and there are not many settlements along it.

As for the construction period and funds, the preliminary calculation will take 10 years and cost 28 billion US dollars. If unconventional construction is adopted, such as nuclear energy technology, it will take seven years and invest 36 billion US dollars.

Avoid over-reliance on the Straits of Malacca as a narrow waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The Straits of Malacca is now one of the busiest waterways in the world, with about 80,000 ships passing through it every year. At present, the Malacca Strait is facing increasing security risks.

First, rampant piracy has seriously threatened the safety of merchant ships in the past. The waters near Indonesia are even more dangerous because of the lack of patrol police force.

Second, the passage is crowded and the traffic order is chaotic. Some anti-terrorism officials in Asian and western countries are now worried that terrorists may try to imitate the modus operandi of pirates and launch attacks on international maritime traffic lines.

Excessive dependence on this "throat waterway" has attracted the attention of relevant countries. Because the Malacca Strait is about 1 100 km long and ships have a long detour distance, and considering the safety and other aspects, it has become the focus of many countries to find various alternative modes of transportation and transportation channels.

Up to now, there are three main schemes put forward by relevant parties: "land-sea combined continental bridge" along the southern coast of Thailand, Pan-Asian oil continental bridge and the construction of Kelaxia Canal. Among them, the Kela Canal has always been the most striking scheme in the thought of "putting aside Malacca".

Once the Kela Canal is opened, the voyage between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean will be shortened by at least about 1200 km, and large ships will save 2 to 5 days, and each voyage is expected to save nearly 300,000 US dollars. This is undoubtedly a good thing for countries whose shipping depends heavily on the Straits of Malacca.

Japan, which relies heavily on maritime transportation, is the most active in digging the Kela Canal. China's traffic through Southeast Asian waters is not small.

It can be said that countries and regions in Europe, Africa and Asia, which are located to the north of the north latitude 10 degree line, will benefit from the crayon river through the shipping industry in Southeast Asia. Digging Kela isthmus will not only promote shipping, but also promote trade, tourism and even affect the strategic deployment of the navy, thus affecting regional politics.

If the canal is opened, a large number of merchant ships will not take shortcuts through the Straits of Malacca, which will undoubtedly have an impact on the interests of Malaysia, Singapore and other countries that have always benefited from the Straits of Malacca. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir said during the meeting of the Pacific Basin Economic Council last May that Malaysia viewed positively Thailand's plan to dig the Kela Canal.

He said that Thailand has the right to dig the canal because it is located in Thailand. If Thailand builds a canal, Malaysia will readjust its economy and seek ways to benefit from it.

He said that history has proved that the opening of other canals, such as Suez and Panama Canal, has affected the development of surrounding areas, but it has not been paralyzed. So far, Singapore officials have not made a formal statement on this, but the media obviously blew a cold wind and questioned the significance of the Kela Canal to international shipping. They think that the Kela Canal is called "Suez Canal in Asia" in name only, and it just avoids bypassing the Malay Peninsula of 6.5438+0.3 million square kilometers, which is "a drop in the bucket" compared with the Suez Canal avoiding bypassing the African continent of more than 30 million square kilometers.

According to many people in the shipping industry, only about 30% of the ships will be diverted through the Kela Gorge Canal instead of taking the Straits of Malacca. Thailand's own attitude is the most critical. In recent years, Thailand's ruling and opposition parties have roughly three attitudes towards the Kela Canal: support, opposition and wait-and-see.

The representative of the supporters is the current Deputy Prime Minister General Chaovalit. 1996, 1 1 After he became Prime Minister of Thailand in June, he intended to promote the construction of the canal, but his ambition failed to materialize, and he resigned one year later because of the pressure of the financial crisis.

Chaovalit became the Deputy Prime Minister of Thaksin's government in February 2000. At present, under the leadership of Chaovalit, the Ministry of Communications has set up a research committee, and signed a contract with a Hong Kong company at the beginning of this year to entrust it with the feasibility study of the canal.

The upper and lower houses of the Thai Parliament also have relevant committees. According to a survey conducted by a polling agency in Thailand last August, 28% people supported the construction of the canal; 33% people think it is profitable.

The influence of Kelaxixia Canal

Another consequence that has to be considered is that it will have too great an impact on the interests of Singapore. Digging this canal will inevitably lead to the overall decline of Singapore. Singapore's oil smelting, entrepot trade and the prosperity of goods storage industry all depend on the Straits of Malacca. Once the canal is opened, all industries in Singapore will be greatly affected. "[3]

Another question about the pros and cons of the crater isthmus was revealed by Dr. Zhu Xingshan, an energy expert of the National Development and Reform Commission: "People are worried about the Straits of Malacca, in fact, they are worried about the neck of the United States, but diverting to Thailand cannot solve this problem, because the United States also has troops in Sotay, Utapao and Bangkok in Thailand." Therefore, in the crater canyon area, it is futile to try to escape the influence of the United States, whether digging canals or laying pipelines. Thailand is strategically located in the center of Indochina Peninsula, and it is also an important gateway to Mekong region and South Asia. Historically, Thailand once had the idea of building the Kela Canal in Kela Canyon, but due to the limited manpower and material resources, the Kela Canal plan failed to be implemented.

With the promotion of the strategic partnership of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the Kela Canal Plan is expected to become a reality.

What does the Kela Canal mean to China? The construction of Kela Canal will not only benefit coastal areas such as Guangdong, Fujian, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but also help the mainland to strengthen its trade with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and European countries, especially in the "One Road" strategic concept.

In addition, under the policy of "returning to the Asia-Pacific", the United States and Singapore have close military cooperation. Once there is a conflict between China and the United States, the Malacca Strait, through which 80% of the mainland's oil imports must pass, will be blocked by the United States, which is equivalent to cutting off the mainland's economic lifeline. However, the opening of the Kela Canal will help the mainland get rid of this dilemma, and the strategic pattern of Southeast Asia will also undergo major changes.

20 14 The preparation team for the Kela Canal led by China enterprises such as Liugong Group, Xugong and Sany Heavy Industry has started operation. After the completion, the trade bodies of ASEAN, China, Japan and even the world all benefited from the opening of the Incla Canal.

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Although the completion of the Kela Canal can greatly enhance Thailand's international shipping and strategic position, Thai nationals have obviously different attitudes towards the construction of the canal. Most people who support the construction of the canal believe that the canal can improve Thailand's position in international logistics, make Thailand a transportation hub, promote the development of many industries, and thus increase employment opportunities in Thailand.

As for the citizens who are worried, although they agree that the canal can bring economic benefits, they are also worried that it will bring instability to the southern region where Muslims mainly live, and the construction cost will be huge, which will make the government need to reduce other public expenditures and environmental impacts. In addition, many people worry that government officials will take advantage of the huge investment in canal projects to profit from it.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Kela Canal

First of all, China's route from the Indian Ocean does not need to pass through the Straits of Malacca, which will shorten the route mileage and save a lot of transportation costs. Secondly, on the political level, Malacca has been the most vulnerable throat of China's sea routes for many years. Once some countries and even illegal groups (such as pirates) seize this fragile throat at the most critical time, China's energy artery blood transfusion will be blocked. In this sense, the excavation of the crater isthmus can share this strategic dilemma. Of course, we can't fundamentally contact this dilemma, but we have one more channel and one more layer of protection.

The Kela Canal is located in the Kela isthmus of Indochina Peninsula, Thailand. According to the engineering plan, this100km artificial canal runs through the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand, making it the largest artificial canal in Asia. After the opening of Kela Canal, the trade between ASEAN Trade Area and other countries in the world will no longer pass through the Straits of Malacca. Compared with the original Malacca route, the Kela Canal will shorten the voyage 1000 kilometers, saving a lot of shipping costs and time costs for logistics freight in ASEAN Free Trade Area. Benefits of Kela Canal Project: 1. Canal toll revenue. The water depth of the canal is more than 17 meters, which is enough to sail a full cargo ship with 15 tons and an empty tanker with 350,000 tons. It takes about two days for a 65438+ million-ton cargo ship to sail at a speed of 15 knots 1000 kilometers, and it is estimated that it will consume 5560 tons of diesel, which is about 50,000-60,000 US dollars at the current international diesel price. At present, there are more than 654.38+million ships sailing in the Straits of Malacca every year, including about 60,000 large and super-large ships. It is estimated that there will be more than 80,000 ships when the canal is put into operation, of which at least 50,000 ships can run through the crater canyon. According to the average charge of 6,543,800 tons and 40,000 dollars per ship, the annual income exceeds 2 billion dollars. A 65438+ million-ton ship can save $300,000 per trip, so $40,000 is also a reasonable price, which is about 1/4~ 1/5 of the present Suez Canal. The income of the Kelaxixia Canal will greatly exceed the current total income of the Panama Canal of more than 654.38 billion US dollars. The reason is that although the Panama Canal can shorten the sea voyage by1.4000 km, only about1.5000 ships pass through it every year, each with a tonnage of no more than 70000 tons. It is conservatively estimated that the canal can earn more than $6,543.8 billion a year. In the case that US$ 2 billion is in the form of bank loans, China government only needs to invest US$ 65.438+0.5 billion, accounting for 50% of the shares, and can recover its investment in just five years. The investment is small, and the income is stable above 30%, which is a very cost-effective investment. International significance Thailand is strategically located in the center of Indochina Peninsula, and it is also an important gateway to Mekong region and South Asia. Historically, Thailand once had the idea of building the Kela Canal in Kela Canyon, but due to the limited manpower and material resources, the Kela Canal plan failed to be implemented. With the promotion of the strategic partnership of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the Kela Canal Plan is expected to become a reality. Recently, the preparation team for the Kela Canal, led by China enterprises such as Liugong Group, Xugong and Sany Heavy Industry, has started to operate, and the ASEAN "Diamond Decade" will also receive the best gift. Impact on Singapore's economy: The canal will prohibit the passage of fully loaded tankers of any tonnage, and all fully loaded tankers can only take the original route of the Straits of Malacca. Petroleum, petrochemical and related industries account for more than 30% of Singapore's manufacturing industry and can be regarded as pillar industries. The tanker is still fully loaded in the Straits of Malacca, which has little impact on Singapore's oil industry. It has a great impact on Singapore's entrepot trade, but the profit of entrepot trade is low, and it can still develop the transportation of150,000 ~ 250,000 tons of super-large container ships. China government can provide effective compensation for Singapore's strong economic strength and rapid industrial transformation.

Analysis of the influence of Kela Canal excavation on China sea route 1. In shipping, Malacca Strait is located at the junction of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. At present, China merchant ships entering the Indian Ocean from the South China Sea have to bypass the Straits of Malacca and pass through Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, which greatly increases the sailing time and transportation cost.

If the Kela Canal is opened, it can directly cross the Gulf of Thailand and reach the Andaman Sea, which will greatly facilitate China cargo ships to enter and leave the Indian Ocean and save operating costs for European and South Asian routes. 2. In terms of security, the Straits of Malacca is one of the three major pirate infested areas in the world and a dangerous maritime navigation area.

Because of its special long and narrow terrain, it is not only beneficial for pirates to attack passing ships, but also easy to hide and escape, so it has been an area with intensive pirate activities in the14th century. In recent years, pirates' acts have become more frequent and their means of attack have become more and more cruel, which poses a serious threat to ships sailing in this sea area.

The threat of pirates to the sea passage is the most direct and important. The geographical environment of Malacca Strait and its adjacent waters is complex, which is convenient for pirates to haunt.

At present, the piracy in this area has been internationalized, and even a "pirate trust" has been formed, and there is a trend of joint action with international terrorist organizations, which is more and more harmful. Piracy not only harms the safety of crew and ships, but also increases the premium, delays shipment and brings huge economic losses.

Terrorism is another important factor that poses a security threat to the strait of Malacca, a sea passage. Malacca Strait is located in a region with many ethnic groups and constant religious conflicts, which is prone to terrorist activities.

Among the three countries along the Straits, Indonesia has become one of the targets of terrorist attacks. Islamic extremism and separatism are rampant in Indonesia, which is also an archipelago country with a long coastline, making it easy for terrorists to hide. Once terrorists create terrorist incidents, the impact on the Straits of Malacca will be far greater than pirate attacks. If the merchant ship explodes at the bottleneck of the waterway, it can bring the waterway to a standstill.

Terrorist activities at sea will not only lead to route change or warship escort, but also cause economic losses and diplomatic disputes, and also cause environmental pollution. Although Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have stepped up their efforts to combat maritime terrorist activities and piracy, they still cannot completely eliminate their impact on the security of the Straits.

Therefore, taking the Kela Canal has become the only choice to avoid the threat of pirates and terrorist incidents. 3. In terms of transportation, due to the special geographical position of Malacca Strait, it has become a transit station and supply station for ships traveling between continents, and the maritime traffic is very busy. There are as many as 654.38+million ships passing through the Straits of Malacca every year, and the navigation channel is almost saturated. Moreover, with the development of shipping industry, the narrow waterway has become more crowded, which has a great impact on the safety of ships.

In addition, the shallow water depth in the Straits of Malacca, where there are many shipwrecks left over from history, also brings great security risks to the navigation of ships. If a VLCC full of crude oil runs aground or collides here, resulting in crude oil leakage, the passage of Malacca Strait will be interrupted at least 1 year, causing incalculable huge losses to many countries.

The opening of the Kela Canal will change the current traffic congestion in the Straits of Malacca and reduce traffic jams and collisions. 4. Economically, at present, the transportation and transit of goods between East Asian countries, led by China, Africa and Europe, have to pass through the Straits of Malacca, which makes Singapore the largest logistics center in the world and the largest trade, finance and service center in Asia with the inflow of funds from various countries.

In 20 12, the annual throughput of China Shanghai Port Container Terminal has exceeded 30 million TEUs, surpassing Singapore, but it has not become the financial center of Asia again. There are two main reasons for this. First, Singapore is a free trade port, and China and Shanghai only established the Pilot Free Trade Zone in 20 13, so they can only set up a futures delivery center in Singapore, which led to the establishment of trading centers for steel, oil and minerals in Singapore. Second, Malacca Strait is the only channel for Asian-African-European trade. The geographical location of Singapore Port determines that it will become a good transit port, and Shanghai Port cannot replace Singapore Port.

Thailand's plan to build the Kela Canal has created opportunities for Shanghai Port. Shanghai has set up a free trade zone, and with the favorable geographical location of Shanghai Port, once the Kela Canal is opened, it will have a great impact on Singapore.

At the same time, the development of Shanghai Port will also promote the economic development of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. At the same time, Shanghai's developed land transportation network will radiate to inland areas such as Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Shaanxi, forming a financial network centered on Shanghai, thus creating convenient conditions for trade cooperation between domestic enterprises and international enterprises. China became the largest trading country in the world on 20 13, and began to move towards a powerful trading country.

The opening of Kela Canal will not only reduce the cost of energy import in China, but also increase the safety of energy transportation in China through diversified maritime energy transportation routes, which is of unusual significance to China's future economic and energy strategy. 5. Politically, the commodity trade of East Asian, African and European countries needs to pass through the Straits of Malacca.

The United States has naval and air bases in Singapore, and Singapore's airports and ports can be used by the US military. The US military has also deployed its most advanced fifth-generation fighters and warships here, giving the United States a strong voice in the Straits of Malacca, which has an impact on the maritime trade and transportation of various countries.

In the event of an international accident, the United States can occupy a favorable position as long as it blocks the Malacca Strait, prevents merchant ships transporting energy from passing through and cuts off their energy supply. For China, the Straits of Malacca is the most important trade and energy channel at present, and 80% of maritime transportation enters the Indian Ocean through it.

If you bypass sunda strait or Lombok Strait, it will increase the navigation mileage and transportation cost, and whether it can pass in a special period will be subject to Indonesian control. If the Kela Canal is completed, it will open up another energy channel to the Indian Ocean.

Therefore, if China participates in the construction of Kela Canal, it will change the whole Asia-Pacific pattern, take the maritime energy channel into its own hands, and enhance China's international influence, which is of great significance.

What benefits does the construction of Kela Canal bring to China? If the Kela Canal is dug, it will be of great economic significance to our country.

This canal can transport not only oil but also other goods, and will change the trade route between Europe and Asia. It can shorten the trade voyage between China and Europe and Africa, and improve the transportation safety.

Generally speaking, the advantages of Kelaxixia Canal Project outweigh the disadvantages. 1, saving freight.

2. unite east Asia. On this issue, China, Japan and South Korea share the same interests. This is a rare opportunity to unite the three East Asian countries in history and in the future. 3. It can balance Singapore, which has always had a bad attitude towards the rise of China and actively acted as the flag of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is imperative to reduce China Shipping's dependence on Malacca. 4. Improve the safety of China route. Pirates are plundering near Malacca, and the new canal can reduce dangerous sections in shipping routes.