Thailand plans to swap Chinese sub with frigate after troubled deal

Thailand plans to swap Chinese sub with frigate after troubled deal.
The Chinese manufacturer was unable to provide a German engine.

The Chinese submarine deal had drawn public criticism during the tenure.

The Thai government is contemplating the purchase of a frigate instead of a submarine from China, following challenges with the original deal, Thailand’s defense minister revealed.

The predicament arose when the Chinese manufacturer was unable to provide a German engine as initially specified in the agreement.

Thailand had already paid a 7 billion baht ($193.7 million) installment to China for one of the three Yuan Class S26T submarines, which were supposed to feature German-made diesel engines.

However, Germany later prohibited the use of its engines for Chinese military exports, causing a delay in the deal’s execution.

Efforts to find a resolution, such as replacing the German engines with Chinese-made alternatives, have undergone multiple rounds of negotiations without reaching a definitive outcome.

The new Thai government, which took office last month following a May general election, has expressed its desire to acquire a frigate instead of a submarine during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visit to Beijing for the Belt and Road Summit.

The defense minister, Sutin Klungsang, mentioned that this proposal is currently under consideration by China.

Further discussions on this new plan are scheduled for next month, according to Sutin. He also indicated that the procurement of submarines would be put on hold for the time being and would be resumed “when the country is ready.”

The previous government had reached an agreement to purchase the first of the three submarines in 2017 for 13.5 billion baht ($373.55 million).

The order for the remaining two submarines, totaling 22.5 billion baht ($622.58 million), was initially approved by a parliamentary committee in 2020.

The Chinese submarine deal had drawn public criticism during the tenure of the previous government, with opposition members and critics raising questions about its alignment with public interests and the necessity of submarines for national security.

Nevertheless, the navy has emphasized that submarine procurement remains crucial for Thailand’s long-term defense interests.

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Thailand plans to swap Chinese sub with frigate after troubled deal

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