By Thai Newsroom Reporters
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.
During last week’s floor debate on the 2024 budget bill at parliament, the defence minister said the OAG’s conclusion on the submarine deal was due “shortly”.
Nevertheless, the navy has already made some seven billion baht in down payment for the Chinese-built submarine for which a German-made MTU396 engine, specified in the purchase contract, will be unavailable to install aboard whilst the delivery schedule for the variant of the Soviet-era, Kilo-class submarine has already been overdue for three months now.
The Chinese government had earlier encouraged the Thai navy to accept a Chinese-made CHD620 engine in place of the unavailable MTU396 engine for use with the submarine which would be Thailand’s first in six decades.
Navy chief Adm. Udong Pan-iam has earlier said the navy could possibly look to buy a submarine from any manufacturing country other than China if the purchase contract in question could be eventually scrapped.
The navy has planned to deploy a fleet of three submarines, essentially viewed as one of its “strategic” weapon systems, beginning with the procurement of the troublesome S26T submarine, followed by a couple of Chinese-built submarines of the same type for a combined price of about 25 billion baht.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang with a Chinese submarine behind him. Photo: Matichon
Front Page: A submarine. Photo: Thai Rath
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