(Photo: Royal Thai Navy)A Chinese delegation, including military officials, will visit Thailand next Wednesday for a new round of negotiations in a bid to resolve a long overdue submarine purchase deal. Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang said on Wednesday there are only two options left to discuss during the negotiations with the delegation. The other option is China's proposal to substitute the initially required German-made submarine engine with a Chinese-made engine and ask for a better compensation deal. China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC), the contracted submarine maker, earlier offered to fit Chinese engines on the submarines. The RTN initially rejected this offer but later agreed to the change and wanted the submarine procurement to continue.

Source: Bangkok Post May 09, 2024 15:16 UTC