Submarine deal shows Thailand’s growing reliance on China

[webfact]

Submarine deal shows Thailand’s growing reliance on China
By Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Navy’s purchase on a Chinese submarine contributes to Thailand’s increasing dependency on the eastern country as well as the military’s growing budget trend, a security expert said on Wednesday.

 

Paul Chamber, a security analyst and lecturer on international affairs at Naraesuan University, said the Thai military would see parades of Chinese military hardware as well as the three Bt36-billion Yuan Class S26T submarines the Navy set to obtain within the next 11 years.

 

The first Bt13.5-billion submarine’s procurement was approved by the junta government in late April for the Navy to open a seven-year-binding agreement with a Chinese state-owned company a few weeks later. Among the coming hardware are 10 Chinese VT-4 tanks, to which the Army is processing procurement proposals, Chamber said.

 

He said the multi-billion baht purchase would mark the start of China’s role as a new principal source of military hardware to Thailand.

 

“China and Thailand would have personnel exchanges for training on the submarines. The two countries have also increased joint military exercises since the 2014 coup,” he said.

 

They will also set up a joint military production facility in Thailand to manufacture and repair arms and weapons parts, he added.

 

This could also have a potentially political element, considering China’s One Belt One Road policy which has attracted the Thai junta, considering that its 99-year land lease policy would benefit the Eastern Economic Corridor, he said.

 

“By getting close to China, the junta has potentially increased Thai dependency on Beijing, while being perceived as China’s ally by Asean states vying for claims over the territories in the South China Sea,” he said.

 

Chamber spoke at a panel discussion on the submarines held by the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand on Wednesday.

Chamber also said that the country's defence expenditure ranks fourth among all government spending.

 

Thailand has also followed a pattern of year-by-year defence budget increases since the 2006 coup, he added.

 

Statistically, Thai military expenditures grew 44.3 per cent since the 2006 coup. After the 2014 coup, the number climbed up 5 per cent in 2015 and 6 per cent in 2016. The 2017 defence budget is Bt210.7 billion, or 7 per cent of total government expenditure, he said.

 

While the Navy and Air Force generally receive less than half in budgeting than the Army receives, the tied-over military budgeting together with the junta-drafted 20-year strategic plan could oblige future governments to support more money for the military, Chamber said.

 

The Navy also claimed that the submarines would help protect security and resources in the 320,000 square kms of Thai sea area in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, maintaining military capabilities and keeping up with neighbouring countries, given that Thailand did not own any submarines for over six decades.

 

The claims were made despite criticisms that the Thai economy is not healthy enough for such extensive military spending, Thailand’s geographical inappropriateness for the submarine operation, as well as alleged "connections" between the Navy and the junta government, Chamber said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30316975

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-02

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The claims were made despite criticisms that the Thai economy is not healthy enough for such extensive military spending, Thailand’s geographical inappropriateness for the submarine operation, as well as alleged "connections" between the Navy and the junta government, Chamber said.

Surprised the junta allowed this rather well thought out speech to take place.  Sums up the situation well. 

[YetAnother]

despite their foolish talk, these generals are insecure

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the submarines would help protect security and resources in the 320,000 square kms of Thai sea area in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, maintaining military capabilities and keeping up with neighbouring countries, given that Thailand did not own any submarines for over six decades.

Look to the evidence. What events occurred in the Thai sea area in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand over six decades that were the result of Thailand lacking submarines? None.

Sea going issues that have occurred were related to surface ship activities, ie., pirates, illegal fishing, human trafficking, illegal fuel transport. None of which would have been forestalled by the presence of Thai submarines. These purchased submarines do not add to the security of the nation. But they do add to the exorbitant toys that the Thai military seems obsessed with in contrast to the critical investment needs of Thai enterprises.

[YetAnother]

"Submarine deal shows..." ; shows a lot of things; none of which are positive ; the fact this was rammed down our throats screams about our current leaders/rulers

[Stargeezr]

How many surface ships could have been bought by the Thailand Navy  for the cost of these

submarines?  It appears that surface ships would be a lot more useful.

Geezer

[Happyman58]

Military spending up Education and Health down Roads who cares about them Stupid subs are more important

[Hereinthailand]

The sad fact is education and health piss away their budget just a well as the military.

[toybits]

You can smell BS just from the headline...

[IMA_FARANG]

Thailand is in  Southeast Asia,  and for more than 1000 years Ghina has been the big power in Southeast Asia.

Now with Donald Trump and his run and hide foreign   policy for the U.S., It should be clear to anyone who has their eyes open that China will once again be the power in the area.

For the Thais China is the "elephant in the room" and not to be ignored, at least for the time being.

 

 

[tryasimight]

4 hours ago, toybits said:

You can smell BS just from the headline...

You don't agree with the headline?

[natway09]

The writers of this article are very slow.

It is basically what I said even before the subs came back on line,

The Bosses High Speed Non Chuffa Trains will pretty much sell Thailands soul to China & if there is ever an elected Government in power the small print in the contract will make sure we pay forever