This is interesting. It was the Thais who were pushing for Dawei port project for the better part of 2 decades. It would give Thais a short-cut around the Strait of Malacca choke point, and shorter route to Europe, Middle East, India and Africa from their manufacturing hub near and around Bangkok. It would also give them easier access to cheap Burmese labor via special economic zones in Dawei. It could also be an alternative port to the Kyauk Phyu Chinese-owned deep water port project in Arakan.