Navy Not Lobbying Ministers Over Chinese Submarine: Suthin

[webfact]

 

DEFENCE MINISTER SUTHIN Khlangsang today (Jan.10) categorically denied that the navy has quietly lobbied prominent members of cabinet for the planned procurement of a troublesome Chinese-built submarine.

 

Suthin said admirals would certainly have conducted sort of lobbyism with him among other unnamed members of cabinet if such unconfirmed hearsay was truthful at all.

 

The defence minister said a possible extension of the contract signed between the Thai navy and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. on the 12.4 billion baht purchase of the Yuan-class S26T submarine cannot be legitimate without approval from the cabinet.

 

In the meantime, Suthin said he is yet awaiting an official conclusion by the Office of the Attorney-General on the legality of the submarine purchase contract for which a cabinet approval will be needed to endorse, no matter whether it could possibly be either extended or cancelled.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

TOP: Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang with a Chinese submarine behind him. Photo: Matichon

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-01-11

 

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[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

DEFENCE MINISTER SUTHIN Khlangsang today (Jan.10) categorically denied that the navy has quietly lobbied prominent members of cabinet for the planned procurement of a troublesome Chinese-built submarine.

so it's true then.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In the meantime, Suthin said he is yet awaiting an official conclusion by the Office of the Attorney-General on the legality of the submarine purchase contract for which a cabinet approval will be needed to endorse, no matter whether it could possibly be either extended or cancelled.

Thailand has already paid a huge down-payment?

Good luck with getting a refund if they  try to cancel... which is not going to happen.

[webfact]

Thai Cabinet reviews submarine procurement contract extension
by Mitch Connor 

 

Picture courtesy of Thairath

A submarine procurement contract extension is under review by the Thai Cabinet, following advice from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). This came as a response to the navy’s inquiries concerning the programme. The OAG highlighted the requirement for a 1,217-day contract extension to undergo a Cabinet review due to the government-to-government nature of the deal.

 

The change to the submarine engine, however, was deemed a technical issue, the evaluation of which rests with the navy. The 13.5-billion baht (US$ 385,279,605) submarine programme experienced a setback when China failed to secure a German-made engine for the Yuan-class S26T submarine, ordered by the Thai navy. This was due to regulatory restrictions that prevented German engines from being utilised in Chinese military equipment, reported Bangkok Post.

 

China offered a CHD620 engine to replace the MTU396, a solution that seems to be acceptable to the navy. Even so, the Pheu Thai-led government appears to lean towards swapping the submarine for a frigate, a deal that may increase costs by one billion baht (US$ 28,527,830).

 

If the engine change is approved, the procurement process will require an additional 40 months to be completed. The construction, already delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently on pause due to the engine issue.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-11

 

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[Tropicalevo]

His 'pants on fire' methinks.

At least it keeps the press happy.

[2baht]

Great purchase, Chinese submarine, no motor....well done guys, you really are stupid! 

[bamnutsak]

Dead in the water.

 

No budget for 2024. OAG to review "legality" of contract.

 

 

[bokningar]

At least some western countries has realized that anything the Chinese get their hands on they will steal the technology.

A bet to late I'm afraid.

[sammieuk1]

No lobbying required with this beauty 🤔

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand has already paid a huge down-payment?

Good luck with getting a refund if they  try to cancel... which is not going to happen.

Thailand already paid $193.7 million (7 billion baht) installment on one Chinese sub purchase.

Probably why Thailand Navy considered taking a frigate instead so the installment payment made during PM Prayut's regime to China could be shifted towards a substitute purchase.

Regardless, without any submarine the Thai Navy (and Thai taxpayers) is stuck with a 540 million baht newly-built submarine facility, training center, submarine simulator centered on the Chinese sub purchase, and a squadron of submariners trained in Germany and South Korea (?).

Time to shift priorities Mr. Defense Minister Suthin Khlangsang and find a solution that fits the Thai taxpayer's pocket book.

Edited January 11 by Srikcir
Msp

[hotchilli]

9 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Thailand already paid $193.7 million (7 billion baht) installment on one Chinese sub purchase.

Probably why Thailand Navy considered taking a frigate instead so the installment payment made during PM Prayut's regime to China could be shifted towards a substitute purchase.

Regardless, without any submarine the Thai Navy (and Thai taxpayers) is stuck with a 540 million baht newly-built submarine facility, training center, submarine simulator centered on the Chinese sub purchase, and a squadron of submariners trained in Germany and South Korea (?).

Time to shift priorities Mr. Defense Minister Suthin Khlangsang and find a solution that fits the Thai taxpayer's pocket book.

A legacy of the Prayut & Co military regime

[herfiehandbag]

Thailand has made a significant "down payment". 

 

Has any form of construction started?

 

As they now tell us that changing from a German to a Chinese engine will add 40 months (!) delay it is clearly not such an easy switch as was suggested!

 

I thought one of the selling points of the Chinese deal was that it was, relatively speaking, an "off the shelf" deal!

 

Perhaps time to recognise that they have been scammed and cut their losses.

Edited January 11 by herfiehandbag

[stoner]

that has to be one of the dumbest photoshop pictures i have ever seen in my life. what an embarrassment. 

 

ps...i would trust the sub in sammieuk pic way before the chinese one. 

[newbee2022]

Thailand's Golf is so shallow that you can see a sub from a spying plane.

I've no idea why Thailand would need a sub? Is it a prestige reason??🙏

[IAMHERE]

They need submarines to protect the Andaman Sea portion of the land bridge ? Maybe accompany that new oil shipping ship PPT bought .

[J Branche]

Cancel the submarine contract.  It has Zero benefits.  No one is invading Thailand.

First Thailand needs to collect tax money, improve basic school education, teach some English to students.  Next you need to properly fund and supply the Government Hospitals.  Then you need to keep investing in streamline routine processes and make as much as is cost effective available through a web or app.  Then work of improving public transit and mass transit in certain areas.   The Submarine would come ONLY after all the much needed improvements have been finished and paid.

[Nabby]

The Thai Gov, idiotically kowtowing to a seriously declining Beijing, is going to waste billions on Chinese garbage.