Prime Minister of Thailand to approve submarine purchase made in China
Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Prime Minister of Thailand at press conference mentioned his approval upon the Chinese-made submarine purchase on March 16th, 2017 (Photo provided by the Office of Prime Minister of Thailand)
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Prime Minister of Thailand to approve submarine purchase from China
March 22, 2017 (Wednesday) 14:20 (Thai time) -
Newsclip.be
[Thailand] Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of Thailand said on
Thursday (March 16th, 2017) at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, "
Three submarines are necessary" on Thai navy's purchase planning of a submarine made in China and expressed an idea to allow purchase.
Evaluated a submarine made in China, "
Performance is reasonable, the lowest cost." It also became a government purchase, also claimed that various services come with it.
China's Yuan Class S26T type submarine made by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation
The Thai Navy plans to buy three Chinese powered submarines "
Yuan Class S26T type submarine", totaling 36 billion baht (US$1.07 billion). Five other submarine producing countries included South Korea, Germany, Russia, Sweden and France competed with the Chinese submarine, but the Thai government eventually chose the Chinese-made ones.
The current military government, which came to power in 2014, confronted the West and the United States seeking an early return to civil affairs, strengthening relations with China. The purchase of a submarine will further strengthen its relationship with China including the military aspect, but it is inevitable that the relationship with the alliance, the US, will deteriorate.
The Thai Navy currently does not own any submarine. Until now, he frequently encourages the government to introduce submarines, and in 2012 he consulted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra administration for the purchase of six German secondhand submarines but was rejected as unnecessary. After that, the Navy built a submarine unit headquarters in the naval base in the eastern part of Thailand without having any submarine, established in 2014.
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Some background info from the older news:
Funding approved for Royal Thai Navy first Yuan Class S26T sub
Navy secures funds to buy Chinese sub
25 Jan 2017 at 04:00
WRITER: WASSANA NANUAM
The Royal Thai Navy has secured 13.5 billion baht to purchase a Chinese-made submarine.
It is expected the vessel would be ready to enter service in six years time.
Navy spokesman ACM Jumpol Loompikanon said the money has been included in the 2017 Budget Bill approved by the National Legislative Assembly.
The purchase of the Yuan Class S26T, the first of three Chinese-made submarines which the navy intends to acquire at a total cost of 36 billion baht, should be made this year, he said.
If all goes to plan, Thailand will have its first submarine in service since the early 1950s, he said.
Four small Japanese-made submarines purchased in 1938 were decommissioned in 1951.
The Chinese S26T craft has a submerged displacement of 2,600 tonnes and is equipped with an air-independent propulsion system that allows the submarine to stay under water for up to three weeks at a time, according to the navy.
This first submarine will cost considerably more than the other two — which will be purchased later — because the 13.5 billion baht will also cover weapon system costs, training courses for the crews, visits by Chinese personnel and various maintenance costs, ACM Jumpol said.
Procurement of the first Chinese submarine will be conducted in a government-to-government deal after the cabinet gives its final approval to the contract.
The navy’s intention to purchase new submarines, a proposal it has made under successive governments, has sparked public debate.
Many people think they are unnecessary and would be a waste of money.
Other critics have even questioned whether the Gulf of Thailand is deep enough for submarines to operate in.
The navy has responded to these remarks by claiming it needs to protect the national interest and match the naval defence capabilities of neighbouring countries.
According to regional security sources, Malaysia now has two submarines, while Singapore has four and is about to purchase two more.
Vietnam has six and Indonesia is in the process of replacing two old German-made submarines with three new ones from South Korea.
Original post bangkokpost.com