Fears rise in India as China pushes plan for canal to reshape Indian Ocean

There's reason to worry about what Chinese involvement in this project will mean for the balance of power in the Indian Ocean, says Indian naval commander

Faced with a new push to build a 100-km canal cutting Thailand in two, and slashing 1,200 km off the route Chinese warships take to reach South Asian ports, Indian naval planners have begun warning the government that the proposed Kra Canal will dramatically enhance Beijing’s ability to intervene in the region. 

“In theory, the Kra Canal could benefit India and the region by taking pressure off the overcrowded Malacca Straits,” said a senior Indian naval commander. “In practice, there’s reason to worry about what Chinese involvement in this project will mean for the balance of power in the Indian