Thai Ruam Palang MP Wasawat Poungponsri has called on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop the planned delivery of 40 additional Chinese-built T59D main battle tanks to Cambodia.
Wasawat made the appeal on July 17 while Anutin was on an official visit to China, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Puangketkaeo. The MP said the request should be made for Thailand's border security, following last year's fighting between Thailand and Cambodia along their shared frontier.
Request during China visit
Wasawat, who is also secretary-general of the splinter opposition Thai Ruam Palang party, said Cambodia had already deployed more than 90 T59D tanks. Many of them were reportedly positioned near Thailand's lower-northeastern border areas.
The MP urged Anutin to seek a suspension of the extra 40-tank delivery directly from Xi.
Submarine funding challenged
Wasawat also called for 2.68 billion baht in partial funding for the Royal Thai Navy's purchase of a Chinese-built S26T submarine to be suspended indefinitely in the fiscal 2027 budget.
He cited budget constraints and argued that any future armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would be fought on land and would be unlikely to occur at sea.
The S26T is a derivative of the Russian-built Kilo class submarine. It has yet to be agreed on a suitable engine, after the proposed, embargoed German-built MTU396 engine. The total price has been reported to cost around 13 billion baht.
Delivery of the submarine, intended to be Thailand's first in six decades, has been rescheduled for late 2028.
Wider naval procurement questions
Alongside the submarine project, the Thai Navy could consider a Chinese-built frigate, as well as a South Korean- or Turkiyean-built frigate, among other options.
Wasawat sits on an extraordinary House committee examining the 3.78 trillion baht budget legislation prepared by the Bhumjaithai-led government.
Picture courtesy of Thai Newsroom
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19 July 2026
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