Panama Canal of the East? Thailand’s Bold Plans to Bypass the Strait of Malacca

Stretching for 750 kilometers between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, Thailand’s southern peninsular is well-known for its iconic tropical beaches and lush mangrove forest. But with expanding global trade power of the east, the Thai government wants to connect the two with what is locally known as a "land bridge," thus potentially cutting down the distance cargo currently has to travel by up to nine days.

Thailand would become a major player in global shipping, one that could rival the Panama Canal. Kickstarting the construction process in 2024, this ambitious project is expected to cost more than USD $36 billion and alter regional geopolitics.

A project of this scale has the potential to severely impact local communities and the environment lying in the land-bridge's path, leading to opposing opinions and with many fearful of further industrial development and expansion.

In the wake of global calls to protect mangrove forests as the significant carbon sinks, journalist Luke Duggleby and Nicha Wachpanich explore the questions of what development means to local communities and other stakeholders? At what cost do people and the environment pay?