'Trans-Asean' bullet train network in the pipeline..China's ambitious B.R.I. implementation continues unchecked!

If you live in Bangkok or the surrounding neighborhood, you may soon be in luck. Thailand's latest state plan is to make the City of Angels the logistics hub of ASEAN. They aim to accomplish this goal with a much needed overhaul of infrastructure.

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Central to this is the groundwork to create an intricate high-speed railway from Bangkok to the surrounding areas. The plan has long been in discussion, but was laid out this week by Thai Deputy Transport Mnisiter Pailin Chuchottaworn who said:

"Thais will be able to take high-speed trains to the Chinese capital and Singapore from a railway station in Bang Sue (district in bkk) in the future." src

The first route of the Thai-Sino project connecting Bangkok to Nong Khai is already under construction. The entire project is projected to cover a distance over 3,193km and cost an estimated 2.07 trillion baht. An outline of the network details three routes: bkk to Kunming via northeast Thailand on through Laos, Bkk to Kunming eastward through Camboida and up through Vietnam, and a southern route connecting Bkk to Singapore down through Malaysia.

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Touting Treasure prosperity and increased tourist by numbers ranging between 10-20 million Chinese holidaygoers per year, the ministry set a preliminary completion date for 2023.

The implications will be wide-ranging indeed, and while it will be cool to travel up to Beijing or down to Singapore over land, I think that caution should be expressed. This project falls under an aggressive Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (B.R.I.), a signature infrastructure policy being advanced by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The policy which hopes to recreate an updated modern version of the Silk Road, involved China handing out exorbitant loans to lesser countries in Asia and Africa as a way to fund construction in transportation hubs. The loans often come with heavy stipulations that give China virtual control and say in the operation and ownership of these ports. Also, the construction often occurs without proper oversight, leading to personal and environmental damage.

While many countries are hoping onboard, not all countries proposed to where as satisfied. Earlier this year Tanzania suspended a $10-billion Bagamoyo port project to be funded by China under the BRI. Tanzanian president John Magufuli has alleged that

China has presented "exploitative and awkward” terms in exchange for financing. Chinese financiers set “tough conditions that can only be accepted by mad people.”src

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While a Trans-ASEAN railway would be really cool.. It could come at a heavy cost to south east asian countries invovled if they are not careful..