Thailand’s military government has approved THB13.5 billion baht to buy a submarine from China after putting the purchase on hold last year, Thai officials said today.
The Thai army will purchase 10 tanks and auxiliary vehicles from China, in addition to 28 main battle tanks ordered from China last year.
Relations have been strengthening between China and Thailand, particularly since ties with the United States cooled after the 2014 coup.
The purchase of the submarine was put on hold last year in the face of public criticism and questions as to whether Thailand really needed a submarine.
Thai navy officials said negotiations with the Chinese government were nearly finalized and the budget had been allocated to pay for the submarine over six years.
“We are in the process of negotiating but this year there will definitely be a signing agreement as we have the budget,” Navy spokesman Admiral Jumpol Loompikanon said.
Jumpol said the submarine would allow the navy to study tactics and how submarine warfare may be used against Thailand.
The Thai army has also set aside two billion baht over three years to buy 10 tanks and auxiliary vehicles from China, according to General Chatudom Thittasiri, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defense.
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