By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THAI NAVY ADMIRALS have ultimately succumbed to China whilst Thai Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang has obviously capitulated to their whims over the long-delayed procurement of a submarine with a “low-quality” engine from the Asian superpower, concluded a noted academic today (May 24).
Chulalongkorn University’s political scientist Prof. Emer. Surachart Bamrungsuk charged that the commanding admirals would practically be more or less influenced by a certain clique of persons with deeply vested interests in the navy’s procurement plan for the Chinese-made S26T submarine whilst the civilian Pheu Thai-attached defence minister could not do anything other than capitulate to their demands.
The unnamed, influential figures, from both inside and outside the navy, have practically managed to keep the commanding admirals and civilian defence minister under control when it comes to the purchase of the 12.4 billion baht S26T submarine which will be equipped with a “low-quality”, Chinese-made CHD620 in lieu of the contract-specified, German-made MTU396, according to the political scientist.
The sale of the German MTU396 engine for use aboard the Chinese submarine had been ultimately denied as part of the European Union’s trade embargo measures against Beijing.
Nevertheless, the Thai admirals had decidedly preferred the submarine built by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. to any surface ships such as frigates which may be as well manufactured by China, Surachart said.
That Suthin had earlier offered for the navy to buy a Chinese-made frigate as an alternative to the troublesome submarine had never been seriously taken into account by the admirals, who had firmly adhered to their original scheme in favour of the Chinese-built submarine, which will be Thailand’s first in six decades.
Under pressure from the influential clique lurking behind the scenes, the admirals would decidedly insist that only the Yuan-class S26T submarine, a copycat of the Russian-built, Kilo-class submarine, and not any surface ships be considered at all, regardless of the type of engine which may be different from the one earlier specified in its purchase contract, according to the academic.
Given the Thai navy’s final agreement to buy the Chinese submarine which will be installed with a Chinese engine in place of the German engine, the S26T construction has been reportedly extended for more than three years from now though the submarine delivery had been earlier scheduled for last year.
According to the Chulalongkorn academic, CHD620 would undoubtedly be viewed as “low-quality” in comparison to MTU396 since the Chinese engine has never been used with any operable submarines, including those of the Chinese navy.
Former navy chief Luechai Ruddit had pushed for the S26T purchase plan, preferring the Chinese submarine over such rivals as a South Korean-built submarine and a second-hand German or Swedish submarine.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng and a Chinese submarine. Photo: TV Channel 7
Insert: Prof. Emer. Surachart Bamrungsuk. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: A submarine. Photo: Thai Rath
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