Thai Defense Minister and Relevant Agencies Visit China for Submarine Procurement Discussion

National—

On March 28th, 2024, Mr. Sutin Klungsang, the Thai Minister of Defense, and relevant agencies visited China to discuss with private sectors and other agencies concerning the procurement of a Thai submarine.

The discussion aimed to evaluate whether the procurement would be advanced or dismissed and its consequences before presenting the matter to the Thai Prime Minister for further deliberation, according to Thai national media.

However, the Thai Navy stressed the need for the procurement of a CHD 620 submarine engine from China and three guidelines as previously presented to the Thai Attorney General’s Office in a contract amendment with the Chinese government which would extend the contract and procure a specific type of engine.

The Thai cabinet must approve the amendment for further deliberation regarding the two nations.

The Thai government proposed another solution to discuss the matter with the Chinese private sector and transferred an advanced transaction of 7 billion baht to procure a frigate instead.

The matters were under deliberation on the possibility of a frigate instead before pressing the matters to the Thai Prime Minister, according to Thai national media.

However, the Thai government could only wait and see if the Chinese government would take the offer or not and review any legal issues that could arise.

This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.