
Thailand's trillion-baht plan to bypass the Malacca Strait moves ahead
Thailand has unveiled draft legislation to create a special economic zone in the south of the country that would pave the way for a multibillion-dollar transport project linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Advertisement
The bill would establish a commission to speed up development of the Southern Economic Corridor in the provinces of Chumphon, Ranong, Suratthani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, according to a Transport Ministry statement.
Prime Minister
Paetongtarn Shinawatra 's Pheu Thai party is proposing the so-called Landbridge project at a cost of about 1 trillion baht (US$29 billion), to link two proposed seaports on either side of the country's southern peninsula with a new highway and rail line.
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
The 100km (62-mile) connection would cut shipping times between the Indian and Pacific oceans by bypassing the Malacca Strait – a narrow sea lane between
Malaysia and
Singapore that is one of the world's busiest ocean routes.
The new commission, chaired by the prime minister, will be responsible for the development of logistics, infrastructure, information technology and other facilities in the specified areas, according to the draft bill. It will also be in charge of finding the money to fund the project.
The draft bill is being presented for public hearing before proceeding to the cabinet and parliament.
Srettha Thavisin, Thailand's then-prime minister, stands in front of an infographic depicting the Landbridge project at a presentation in November 2023. Photo: Facebook/Srettha Thavisin
Former Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin , also from the Pheu Thai party,
previously pitched the Landbridge project to overseas investors during visits to the US and China.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTHK
12 hours ago
- RTHK
Vice premier He calls for equal dialogue with US
Vice premier He calls for equal dialogue with US At the London trade talks are, from left, Jamieson Greer, Howard Lutnick, Scott Bessent, He Lifeng, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Chinese International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang. Photo: AFP The United States should resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, Vice Premier He Lifeng said. China reiterates that the United States should work with China to honour their words with actions and demonstrate sincerity in keeping commitments and concrete efforts to implement consensus so as to jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of dialogue, He said. The vice premier made the remarks during the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London on Monday and Tuesday with the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. During the talks, the two sides held candid and in-depth talks and thoroughly exchanged views on economic and trade issues of mutual concern. The two sides reached a principled agreement on implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone call on June 5 and the framework of measures to consolidate the outcomes of the economic and trade talks in Geneva, and made new progress in addressing each other's economic and trade concerns. Calling the meeting an important consultation held under the guidance of the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state on June 5, He said China's position on Sino-US economic and trade issues is clear and consistent. Noting that the essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, he said cooperation in the economic and trade field benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. There are no winners in trade wars, he said, adding that China does not seek conflict but will not be intimidated by one. The vice premier urged the United States to resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, adding that while China is sincere in pursuing economic and trade consultations, it also has its principles. Next, the two sides should, in accordance with the important consensus and requirements reached by the two heads of state during their phone call, make better use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism and work to enhance their consensus, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation, He said. The two sides should maintain communication and consultation and promote the steady and sustained growth of Sino-US economic and trade relations so as to inject more certainty and stability into the world economy, He added. The US side said that the meeting had achieved positive outcomes and further stabilized bilateral economic and trade relations, adding that it would walk in the same direction as China in accordance with the requirements of the phone call between the two heads of state to jointly implement the consensus reached at this meeting. (Xinhua)


RTHK
13 hours ago
- RTHK
Hang Seng Index ends up on progress in trade talks
Hang Seng Index ends up on progress in trade talks The Hang Seng Index ended up 204.07 points, or 0.84 percent, at 24,366.94. File photo: RTHK Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stocks climbed on Wednesday, lifted by optimism over progress in Sino-US trade talks, although investors awaited further details on the framework agreed upon by the two countries. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 204.07 points, or 0.84 percent, at 24,366.94. In the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended up 0.52 percent to 3,402.32. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.83 percent higher at 10,246.02. The gains came after US and Chinese officials said they had agreed on a framework to put their trade truce back on track and remove China's export restrictions on rare earths while offering little sign of a durable resolution to longstanding trade differences. "This is positive news to the market," said Mark Dong, co-founder of Minority Asset Management. "At least now there's a bottom line that neither side is willing to cross. "Going forward, both sides will move toward reducing the trade imbalance." Zeng Wenkai, the chief investment officer at Shengqi Asset Management, said markets had likely expected the outcome. "People have realised that kneeling gets you nowhere – in fact, it only invites more bullying," Zeng said, adding that countries are now adopting a tougher stance in negotiations with the United States. The CSI Rare Earth Index gained more than 3 percent, while China's semiconductor index fell 0.1 percent. "The details matter, especially around the degree of rare earths bound for the US, and the subsequent freedom for US-produced chips to head East," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone. "But for now as long as the headlines of talks between the two parties remain constructive, risk assets should remain supported." Tech majors traded in Hong Kong advanced 1.1 percent China's auto stocks climbed nearly 2 percent after several major automakers, including BYD, Chery and Geely, pledged to pay suppliers within 60 days. (Reuters/Xinhua)

The Standard
17 hours ago
- The Standard
Oceans protection treaty could take effect from January, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron, Munipoese Muli'aka'aka, President of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna, and Moetai Charles Brotherson, President of French Polynesia, pose for a family photo with participants during the France-Pacific Summit at the Prefecture during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) that gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life in Nice, France, June 10, 2025. (Reuters)