Thai government mulls procurement of Chinese submarines

BANGKOK, July 8 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha says that his government is considering a plan, proposed by the Royal Thai Navy, to buy three Chinese submarines, totally worth 36 billion baht. The prime minister told journalists on Tuesday that the new procurement project is in line with the Royal Thai Armed Forces' 10 and 20-year development plans. The Thai premier acknowledged, however, that his Cabinet has not yet approved the plan. Meanwhile, Thai Navy Chief Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich insisted that Chinese submarines are considered the best choice. The Thai navy chief noted that the new procurement plan has not yet been proposed to the Defence Council and the Cabinet. According to the navy commander-in-chief, the Royal Thai Navy has good reasons for the new procurement and will spend its regular budget on paying for the procurement in annual installments of about 3 billion baht each. (TNA)