Thailand is planning to build a canal across the Kra Isthmus. If constructed, this canal will divert traffic away from the Malacca Strait, saving up to 1200 km in travel distance. It could bring an economic boost to Thailand, but at the same time, could upheave Southeast Asia's regional stability and provide China with extended power.

BAKU - A group of influential Thai officials is promoting the construction of a long-envisioned megaproject, known as the Thai Canal. If built, it would transform the regional maritime dynamics and give Thailand a substantial stake in global trade. Yet, as ambitious as the project it, there are equally credible drawbacks that could reshape the geo-economic fortunes of Southeast Asia.