Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post
An unexpected turn of events saw the Pheu Thai-led government opting for a Chinese-made frigate over a submarine, after a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding the original submarine purchase. The shift in decision came on the heels of China‘s inability to get the German-made MTU 396 engine for the submarine, as specified in the 2017 agreement. China’s suggestion of using a home-made CHD620 engine in place of the German-made engine didn’t sit well with the Thai government.
The former navy chief, Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, had expressed his readiness to recommend the Chinese-made engine after numerous negotiations. However, the government decided against the submarine procurement, suggesting a Chinese-made frigate as an alternative. Pheu Thai’s previous criticism of the submarine purchase when it was an opposition…
