Thailand weighs accepting Chinese engine in submarine deal

Beijing pressures Royal Thai Navy to take 'notoriously loud' powertrain

20230613 Chinese submarine

A Chinese submarine takes part in a naval parade in 2019. China is expanding its presence along Asia’s military equipment supply chain. © Reuters

MARWAAN MACAN-MARKAR, Asia regional correspondent

BANGKOK -- Thailand is considering a Chinese engine for a submarine it plans to purchase from China now that Germany has refused to supply an engine.

Thailand agreed in 2017 to purchase a submarine from China for $369 million, a deal that symbolized Thailand's deepening ties with China as a supplier of military assets. At the time, the then junta, headed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, was taking steps toward balancing its strategic ties with China, having received a cold shoulder from the U.S. following Prayuth's coup in 2014.

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