Chinese Minister of Defence General Li Shang Fu met with Royal Thai Navy Commander-in-chief Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet on Thursday in Beijing as Thailand prepares to take delivery of the HTMS Chang and a decision is due shortly on the S26 Yuan Class submarine from China which has been stalled now for some time over a dispute relating to the provision of engines as specified in the original contract signed with the Chinese firm tasked with its construction.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

A decision on the $400 million S26 Yuan class submarine was in the background to this high-profile visit by the Thai naval commander to China with many observers eyeing it as a decisive point in the direction of Thailand’s military procurement plans concerning China which now has added interest as geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, Thailand’s strategic military ally, have become extremely hot.

The Head of the Royal Thai Navy, Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, met China’s Minister of Defence General Li Shang Fu last Thursday as a Thai delegation arrived in China in recent days for crucial talks until Monday including discussions on the fate of the controversial ฿13.5 billion S26T Yuan class submarine with a call or decision soon to be made by Thailand following a suspension of its construction over the inability of China to provide a highly coveted Rolls Royce powered MTU396 engine. Nonetheless, with the planned arrival on April 27th next of HTMS Chang, a Thai amphibious frigate constructed in Shanghai, there are also indications of deepening and more ‘imtimate’ ties between the Thai navy and its Chinese counterpart.

The Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy at the end of last week, paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Minister of Defence at the Diao Yutai State Guesthouse in the western suburbs of Beijing as matters were finalised for the delivery from China of the new multipurpose amphibious landing ship, HTMS Chang, which is to depart China on April 17th and is expected in Thailand on April 27th next.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/04/16/submarine-call-due-chinese-thai-naval-ties-defence-minister-admiral-chief/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-04-17

 

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What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

1 hour ago, garyk said:

What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

What sort of mess? A "miserable existence" for expats because LOS is purchasing naval craft from China and not the big bullies? Really?

A Kickstarter has been found HTMS Chang by the sound of it all aboard ????

When you speak the same language, Chinese, agreements are easier.

1 hour ago, pegman said:

What sort of mess? A "miserable existence" for expats because LOS is purchasing naval craft from China and not the big bullies? Really?

Thailand will do nicely siding with China....

2 hours ago, garyk said:

What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

Such nonsense. Not as miserable as the existence we would be living if we were still in the US, Canada, Oz, NZ, or Europe. You can have it. We have opted out. Thankfully. Willfully. With glee. 

Closer ties to China are not a good idea. They are up to no good. Their intentions are heinous. Their desire for power and dominnance knows no bounds. They cannot and should not be trusted. They are NOT a reliable ally, and are not a good or trustworthy world power. They are only one step above Russia, on the trust scale. Worldwide slavery, and organ harvesting? No thanks Xi. 

 

Xi
I allow no personal freedom to my people. 

 

We harvest organs for profit and punishment. 

 

We oppress our minority populations. 

 

We barely allow any imports and make it difficult for companies to sell their products in China. 

 

We ignore territorial boundaries and claim ownership of the South China Sea. 

 

We were the only nation to subscribe to a zero covid policy, even if it meant putting millions out of work. 

 

I have just been appointed PM for life. Or, close to it. 

Impressive, huh? Want to be like us? 

Edited April 17, 20233 yr by spidermike007

Does the amphibious frigate have wheels or tracks?

2 hours ago, garyk said:

What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

My plan has always been to stay here in Thailand to about 68-70 then move back to the UK with the family for my old age. I feel for those with no future plan or no way to get back home and will end life in a cheap room as a bad smell 

 

 

 

get 2 in case 1 sinks

15 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

My plan has always been to stay here in Thailand to about 68-70 then move back to the UK with the family for my old age. I feel for those with no future plan or no way to get back home and will end life in a cheap room as a bad smell 

That's nice for you, but what has your retirement plan got to do with the price of fish? Gary has a point and Thailand is dancing with the devil, albeit through the sad little men with small penises that run the place. The photo is pukeworthy.

Hope deal comes with engine included…. batteries and accessories extra!!

7 hours ago, webfact said:

the inability of China to provide a highly coveted Rolls Royce powered MTU396 engine

Aw China, I help you out!

This should get it started:

5 hours ago, pegman said:

What sort of mess? A "miserable existence" for expats because LOS is purchasing naval craft from China and not the big bullies? Really?

Interesting comment. So the CCP are NOT being the big bully in this region. I think Taiwan, the Philippines Vietnam, India, Australia, Japan, South Pacific islands etc would tend to disagree with your statement

4 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Does the amphibious frigate have wheels or tracks?

Given the fact that all those Admirals appear to be parachute trained, I presume it is capable of being "air dropped"!

22 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Given the fact that all those Admirals appear to be parachute trained, I presume it is capable of being "air dropped"!

Cue the Air Force to request budget for a new 20,000 ton airlifter........

3 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Cue the Air Force to request budget for a new 20,000 ton airlifter........

Air-grifter surely?

9 hours ago, garyk said:

What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

I know you left Thailand some time ago, but you have a good point here. What will happen to Western expats in Thailand, especially if a war begins between China and the US/UK/Australia/Japan? Will Thailand go all in with China or try to feign neutrality? Comparative insight might be seen with what the military government in Thailand did in World War II. Here is an interesting article about the Catholic church and how it was used as a part of the war against the West at the time. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23020303

The new vessel should be arriving this week. Apart rom two CGI images I have not seen a live picture of the multi-purpose ship described as a frigate, submarine tender, landing dock etc. The Admiral conirmed its mission is to support the submarine presumably it will tow it around until engines are found. Perhaps the surveillance airship could be moored to the stern and provide early warning o threats such as dolphins using arrays of GT200 detectors.

10 hours ago, garyk said:

What a mess, I feel for the expats that got sucked in and are stuck there. i have a feeling it is going to be a miserable existence  for many expats in the future.

What have submarines got to do with expats?

8 hours ago, billd766 said:

What have submarines got to do with expats?

They are both on a sinking ship!

16 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Such nonsense. Not as miserable as the existence we would be living if we were still in the US, Canada, Oz, NZ, or Europe. You can have it. We have opted out. Thankfully. Willfully. With glee. 

Hummm, I enjoy Thailand sometime. But I live cheaper in the US with better quality food and housing. Fresh air and good roads. I live across from a Thai family and next door to Philippines and you could not pay them to go back..  Different strokes I guess. All the best.

Edited April 17, 20233 yr by garyk

5 minutes ago, garyk said:

Hummm, I enjoy Thailand sometime. But I live cheaper in the US with better quality food and housing. Fresh air and good roads. I live across from a Thai family and next door to Philippines and you could not pay them to go back..

Absolutely, even I don't live in the USA I am 1000% happy I moved back to my country I have everything here (apart from the 2 houses I lost moving to Thailand)

Don't forget, the ACM of the RTAF wanting just two F-35's from the USA-LOL.

47 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Absolutely, even I don't live in the USA I am 1000% happy I moved back to my country I have everything here (apart from the 2 houses I lost moving to Thailand)

Yea,  all the folks that moved to Thailand and make it out to be the best country in the world. I take with a huge grain of salt. Best to just pass them by.  

4 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Yea,  all the folks that moved to Thailand and make it out to be the best country in the world. I take with a huge grain of salt. Best to just pass them by.  

I totally Agree

12 hours ago, garyk said:

They are both on a sinking ship!

I doubt that about the expats.

 

The submarines, I agree.

11 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Yea,  all the folks that moved to Thailand and make it out to be the best country in the world. I take with a huge grain of salt. Best to just pass them by.  

Been living here for 35 years, I am not going home , If I had stayed in the UK

would most likely died a few years ago , , Thailand has

been very good to me , thanks Thailand. the West you can keep it.

 

regards worgeordie

On 4/17/2023 at 7:13 AM, spidermike007 said:

Xi
I allow no personal freedom to my people. 

 

We harvest organs for profit and punishment. 

 

We oppress our minority populations. 

 

We barely allow any imports and make it difficult for companies to sell their products in China. 

 

We ignore territorial boundaries and claim ownership of the South China Sea. 

 

We were the only nation to subscribe to a zero covid policy, even if it meant putting millions out of work. 

 

I have just been appointed PM for life. Or, close to it. 

Impressive, huh? Want to be like us? 

What you're referring to is now called "Xivilization" by Chinese state media.  

Quote

The first issue of the Global Times' Xivilization series emphasizes Xi's ideas on the diversity and beauty of different civilizations, as seen from the all-important Global Civilization Initiative he has presented to the world.   https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289306.shtml