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Roundup: Thailand's submarine purchase plan might be suspended: new navy chief

Xinhua, October 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thailand might probably suspend its submarine purchase plan due to the country's economic hardships, said navy chief Adm Na Areenit on Friday.

The Thai navy earlier planned to buy three Chinese-made Yuan- class S-26 T submarines for a combined price of 1 billion U.S. dollars under a government-to-government dealing.

Adm Na said such sub procurement plans might be suspended to allow the military-led government to place priorities on other projects.

"Maybe, other planned expenditures warrant priorities, such as projects for low-income earners, over the sub purchase plan. We might probably have to put it off," said the newly-named navy chief.

Adm Na added that the navy might turn to train its personnel to be more combat-ready and efficient if such purchase plans were eventually suspended.

The navy chief made his comments in contrast to those of his predecessor, former navy chief Adm Kraisorn Chansuvanit, who just retired on Wednesday and had pushed for the planned procurement of the Chinese submarines.

Adm Kraisorn earlier assured that submarines could potentially safeguard the country's sea lines of communication, underseas natural resources and coastal and island resorts while maintaining maritime territorial integrity.

Nevertheless, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan earlier commented that the sub buying plan might be put on hold in the face of the country's sustained economic slumps.

Gen Prawit suggested that the navy monitor "public views" about its sub purchase plan while the country's maritime interests and naval defense capabilities are simultaneously to be taken into account.

The sub procurement plan had already been submitted to the deputy premier who is yet to forward it over to the cabinet. He has not made a move involving the particular matter so far.

Thailand has not had submarines over the last six decades as several ASEAN states do, including Malaysia which currently deploys French-made, Scorpene-class subs, Singapore with Swedish- made, Sjoormen-class and Vastergotland-class subs, Indonesia with South Korean-made, Type 209-class subs and Vietnam with Russian- made, Kilo-class subs. Endi