Thailand seeks China-built frigate as ‘diplomatic substitute’ to troublesome submarine deal

Jitsiree Thongnoi
2023.10.23
Bangkok
Thailand seeks China-built frigate as ‘diplomatic substitute’ to troublesome submarine deal Various models of submarines designed by the China Ship-Building and Offshore International Co., Ltd. are displayed at the 2017 Defense and Security show in Bangkok, Nov. 6, 2017.
[BenarNews]

Thailand’s proposal to purchase a Navy frigate from Beijing as an alternative to a China-built submarine will placate the Chinese government, while buying Bangkok time to look for a better sub deal, an analyst says.

Thailand’s Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang announced last week that the Royal Thai Navy was temporarily shelving plans to acquire the submarine following protracted problems finding a suitable engine.

The purchase of the 13.5 billion baht (U.S. $369 million) Yuan-class submarine ran into trouble because the Chinese state-owned submarine developer was unable to buy a German-built diesel engine for the sub, due to a European Union arms embargo imposed on Beijing.

While the Royal Thai Navy said in April it was prepared to accept a modified CHD620 ship engine to power the submarine, negotiations appear to have stalled – forcing Thailand to seek an alternative.

Speaking at a press conference on Oct. 20, Sutin said the proposed frigate had defensive capabilities in the air, surface and underwater.

“It is going to cost about the same with the submarine itself,” he said.

A frigate would better serve Thailand’s practical needs and it could replace the HTMS Sukhothai, which sank in the Gulf of Thailand last year, said Paul Chambers, a lecturer and special advisor on international affairs at Naresuan University’s Center of ASEAN Community Studies.

Purchasing the vessel would also buy Thailand time to look around for another submarine, he said.

“The submarine negotiations with China are seemingly endless. While Germany refuses to provide its engines for the submarines, China itself is encountering problems locating a particular engine of its own under the agreement with Thailand,” he told BenarNews.

“Diplomatically, Thailand does not have to incur China’s ire by dropping the submarine purchase altogether since Thailand is still not happy with the Chinese sub engine – the frigate purchase is a diplomatic substitute."

Thailand’s Navy has faced strong public scrutiny over its decision to equip itself with new submarines, both in terms of expense and strategic need. 

In late 2020, the then-government of former army chief Prayuth Chan-o-cha was forced to shelve a controversial plan to buy two additional Chinese-made submarines amid calls for support of the COVID-damaged economy.

Sutin said public sentiment must be taken into account and Thailand was still open to buying submarines from other countries.

“If we accept the Chinese engine for the submarine, who would guarantee it in terms of legality, especially against the government or the military?” he said. “It could also bring about divisions and have other political effects.”

Thailand’s new government must also walk a diplomatic tightrope with China, especially as it hopes to enhance its economic partnership with the world’s No 2 economy.

Last month, it introduced visa-free travel visiting Thailand and Srettha has been busy chasing investment from Chinese manufacturers, particularly in the EV automotive sector.

Many Southeast Asian countries, including those with competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, are developing their own submarine fleets.

Vietnam bought six Kilo-class submarines from Russia, while Indonesia and the Philippines are discussing purchasing submarines from France. Singapore and Malaysia operate four and two subs, respectively.

China has the largest submarine fleet in Asia.

The Pentagon puts the Chinese submarine fleet at 60-strong and projects it will have 80 units by 2035, while the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence projects that the fleet will expand from 66 subs today to 76 by 2035, according to a Congressional Research Service report on China’s naval modernization that was updated last week. 

The Yuan-class is a diesel-electric submarine designed to operate in shallow coastal waters, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.

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