Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng, left in above photo and right in Front Page  image, and a Chinese submarine. Photo: TV Channel 7

 

NEW DEFENCE Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng said today (Sep. 9) he is considering holding talks with China to allow the exchange of a submarine for which the sought-after German engine is unavailable while the Thai navy is reluctant to accept a Chinese engine for either surface ships or fertiliser, TV Channel 7 said Sep. 9.

 

Suthin was questioned about the perplexing submarine deal at a discussion with Rangsit University’s doctorate programme students under the topic “Thailand’s security in the new world order and geographical challenge.”

 

Germany has so far refused to sell its MTU396 engine for the Yuan-class S26T submarine being built by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. However it was earlier reported that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Panpree Pahitthanukorn would again ask their counterparts to do so during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York later this month.

 

The Chinese shipbuilding firm earlier insisted that a brand-new, Chinese-made CHD620 engine be installed aboard the S26T sub, a derivative of Russia’s Kilo-class sub, in lieu of the unavailable German engine.

 

by TNR Staff

TOP: Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng, left in above photo and right in Front Page  image, and a Chinese submarine. Photo: TV Channel 7

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/09/09/suthin-wants-to-exchange-chinese-sub-for-either-surface-ships-or-fertiliser/

 

-- THAI NEWSROOM 2023-09-11

 

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Thailand considers barter trade with China for submarine amid procurement issues
by Mitch Connor

 

Image by 12019 from pixabay

 

The Defence Minister of Thailand revealed that the government is considering various alternatives, including a barter trade arrangement or the purchase of fertilisers from China, to resolve the ongoing issues concerning the procurement of a submarine for the navy.

 

Sutin Klungsang spoke on the matter at a seminar discussing Thai security and geopolitical challenges, hosted by Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation.

 

The debate comes as the Royal Thai Navy wraps up joint exercises with China today. Blue Streak 2023 aims to facilitate the sharing of naval expertise, prepare for potential humanitarian assistance and disaster relief situations, and strengthen military relations between the two countries and involved naval ships and submarines from China and Thailand.

 

Sutin was questioned about the problematic submarine engine, to which he responded by advising the navy to assess the necessity of the procurement. He suggested that if the navy deems the Chinese-made engine unsuitable, further discussions with China should be initiated to explore potential solutions. These could include the purchase of a surface ship, or even abandoning the contract altogether and opting to import cheaper fertilisers from China instead.

“Other options, such as a barter trade deal, should be considered. But we still have to look at whether these options are in line with the law.”

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-considers-barter-trade-with-china-for-submarine-amid-procurement-issues

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-11

 

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as long as the pocket money has been paid then the subs contract can sink, a very careful look at the procurement finances might uncover something  - like a big leak

1 hour ago, smedly said:

as long as the pocket money has been paid then the subs contract can sink, a very careful look at the procurement finances might uncover something  - like a big leak

Any look could be called the Belafonte Scandal - "There's a hole in my bucket" 

I expect that a solution will be found when the appropriate number of brown envelopes are delivered.

You couldn't make it up. 

You go put and buy an expensive sub ( which is of no use to you whatsoever) and then ..... you go looking for an engine!! 

Hilarious, except the poor Thais have to pay for this monumental cluster f##k to satisfy some stupid old guys egos .....and of course pockets. 

Dictator 1. What you Thai guys say to a few bags of fertiliser? 

Dictator 2. Say Xi , not a bad idea. As we have no engine for our glorious sub we can fill the Hull with those bags and we now we don't need a stupid engine to submerge.

Dictator 1. What about surfacing?

Dictator 2. We'll just dump some bags of ferrty out of the torpedo tubes. Sorted. 

27 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

You couldn't make it up. 

You go put and buy an expensive sub ( which is of no use to you whatsoever) and then ..... you go looking for an engine!! 

Hilarious, except the poor Thais have to pay for this monumental cluster f##k to satisfy some stupid old guys egos .....and of course pockets. 

Pockets first, everything else irrelevant. 

28 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

You couldn't make it up. 

You go put and buy an expensive sub ( which is of no use to you whatsoever) and then ..... you go looking for an engine!! 

Hilarious, except the poor Thais have to pay for this monumental cluster f##k to satisfy some stupid old guys egos .....and of course pockets. 

This is so they can have open days for the Public (but not foreigners) to show off their new super weapon that like their Aircraft carrier is a giant white elephant.

3 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

This is so they can have open days for the Public (but not foreigners) to show off their new super weapon that like their Aircraft carrier is a giant white elephant.

A perfect setting each year for children's day with the balance of the year used as a big boys toy. 

Go for the fertilizer, it does'nt need an engine! ????

The West doesn't want to sell Thailand their technology now because they know it will be in Chinese hands within days.

Thailand is sliding deeping into China's pocket and so long as they keep electing officials that are more concerned with becoming "unusually rich" instead of doing their job, it's only going to get worse.

But no politician is going to do away with the very laws that are protecting them now, like the Defamation laws. And no politician is going to crack down on the Prosecutors and Judges that keep letting (rich) criminals get away with their crimes.

So Thailand is going to end up just like Cambodia soon. And then just like Myanmar a little later.

I'm actually a bit surprised that the military Junta didn't go full "Hun Sen" when they had the power. Guess they were worried they didn't have complete control of their own military and were worried their heads would be on the block if they tried.

But there's always next time......... especially if China is willing to back your play and keep the West from interfering.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

These could include the purchase of a surface ship, or even abandoning the contract altogether and opting to import cheaper fertilisers from China instead.

That's a lot of sh#t

59 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

You couldn't make it up. 

You go put and buy an expensive sub ( which is of no use to you whatsoever) and then ..... you go looking for an engine!! 

Hilarious, except the poor Thais have to pay for this monumental cluster f##k to satisfy some stupid old guys egos .....and of course pockets. 

So much jealousy after fleeing from you homeland to seek refuge in a foreign land possibly using a "wify visa" .

14 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

That's a lot of sh#t

They're full of it!

9 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

So much jealousy after fleeing from you homeland to seek refuge in a foreign land possibly using a "wify visa" .

What absolute rubbish! ????

 

 

They could run it on fertilizer and cut out the middle man

So the deal is a Chinese Sub in exchange for a pile of <deleted>..... I'd say the Chinese got the better end of the deal there.????????

27 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

So much jealousy after fleeing from you homeland to seek refuge in a foreign land possibly using a "wify visa" .

Utterly irrelevant comment, but you managed to get in your obsession with marriage to a Thai!

 

Bitter about something are we; or just trolling...

 

 

1 hour ago, harleyclarkey said:

Dictator 1. What you Thai guys say to a few bags of fertiliser? 

Dictator 2. Say Xi , not a bad idea. As we have no engine for our glorious sub we can fill the Hull with those bags and we now we don't need a stupid engine to submerge.

Dictator 1. What about surfacing?

Dictator 2. We'll just dump some bags of ferrty out of the torpedo tubes. Sorted. 

Many years ago on exercises in Germany the British Army used to practise laying anti tank minefields using dummy barmines filled with fertilizer; you didn't have to dig them up afterwards and it kept the German farmers happy ( if there is such a thing as a happy German farmer); so I suppose there is a vague sort of precedent!????

Fertilizer? Is this a polite word for something else?

These submarine stories will run and run and run; or they would if it had an engine!

This is Thailand. I can see the Sub eventually being powered by a string of Honda PCX150 motors. 

This sort of quote should result in immediate resignation.

 

Just when we thought that this sub purchase couldn't get any worse, voila, this moron shows that it can.

 

 

"Fertilizer"?

 

Smells like the new Agriculture Minister is sniffing around for some extra graft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This could get interesting. According to a mate who tried to do business with the Thai military a few years back the price of whatever has to be inflated to allow for the 'return' of some of it - if you get my drift. Apparently that part of the 'transaction' takes place at the ordering stage.

 

Should they need to cancel the sub deal or change it as per the potential 'barter deal' they are suggesting, the sub manufacturer will only be able to return the portion of the deposit that they actually have - the rest having been 'returned'.

Rice is a very fertilizer intensive crop, I bet with the fertilizer crises coming he is trying to make sure they can feed Thailand not patrol the seas in a sub with no engine.

How about a deal where you keep your sub and your tourists ????

49 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Fertilizer? Is this a polite word for something else?

Yes, Thai politics ????

I'm guessing they've realised that it doesn't look as cool as Kim's sub in North Korea and so want to exchange it for a large bag of fertiliser or an inflatable boat.

What will be in the fertilizer ? !!