Thai DPM:Submarines will be used to protect national marine interests

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - Defending a plan by the Royal Thai Navy to procure three submarines from China, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan says that the planned procurement would be based on a government-to-government basis and would be used for protecting national marine interests and resources and to ward off threats. General Prawit, who oversees national security, told Thai News Agency (TNA) in an exclusive interview of the policy, noting that the Royal Thai Navy is responsible for making the public properly understand about the plan, aimed to further develop Thai naval fleets in various forms. General Prawit pointed out that the Royal Thai Navy has set up a submarine division for a long time, but it has no submarine for use yet. According to the Thai deputy premier and defence minister, several fellow countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) now have submarines for use, at least for boosting their naval strength. The deputy prime minister revealed that the Royal Thai Navy once submitted a proposal to buy submarines when he was a defence minister in the previous government of ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and he agreed but the public have not yet understood so far why it is necessary for the Royal Thai Navy to acquire new submarines. The Royal Thai Navy decided late last month to buy three Chinese submarines, each cost 12 billion baht, to be commissioned in its naval forces. (TNA)