Chinese submarines are worth the spending, but are they necessary?
For the past two decades, the Royal Thai Navy has been trying desperately to procure one or more submarines to boost its maritime power.
The choices of submarines have shifted from German-made to Swedish-made and then to other manufacturers depending on the preferences of decision-makers at the RTN at each occasion. But in the end, nothing has materialized. And one stumbling block is: Is it necessary for Thailand to have submarine or submarines? A simple question that the RTN is yet to answer convincingly to clear the doubt of those who disagree with the procurement.
Of late, however, the RTN has come up with the same proposal for submarines and, this time around, Chinese submarines of Yuan Class S-26T. Why Chinese submarines?
The RTN has conducted a comprehensive study about the capability of the Yuan Class submarines in comparison with submarines already in services in the navies of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. The study shows that the Chinese submarines wanted by the RTN have greater capability and the prices offered for three submarines are attractive – 36 billion baht in total for the subs plus training and etc.
The Yuan Class S-26T submarine weighs 2,600 tonnes and powered by diesel engines. It is equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system which enables the sub to go under water for 21 running days without having to surface for battery recharging – the longest period to be under water for a conventional submarine. Other conventional submarines can stay under water for at most 7-10 days at a time.
Moreover the Yuan Class submarines that the RTN has wanted to buy from China will be equipped with anti-ship missiles (ASM system).
By comparison, Malaysia’s Scorpion submarines lack AIP system although they are capable of installing ASM; Indonesia’s Chang Bo Class DW1400 submarines lack AIM system and cannot be fitted with ASM system; Singapore’s 218SG submarines lack AIP system; and Vietnam’s Russian-made Kilo Class submarines lack AIP system although they have ASM system.
RTN commander-in-chief Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich gave a press conference on July 2 to disclose about the RTN’s plan to purchase three Yuan Class submarines from China at an estimated cost of 36 billion baht. The proposal was recently considered by the cabinet which ordered the RTN to conduct more study about the worthiness of the project after widespread protests against the project questioning its worthiness and necessity.
Even before Admiral Kraisorn announced the plan to purchase Chinese submarines, the Defence Ministry had sought opinions from relevant agencies about the project in March. It was reported that the Finance Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Board opposed the project questioning its necessity and voicing concern about budgetary spending which will be binding for up to 10 years.
At the cabinet meeting on April 28, Finance Minister Sommai Phasee and NESDB secretary-general told the cabinet they had no objection against the project in principle but preferred the RTN to conduct more study about the project and gave the RTN 200 million baht for the study.
It was reported that the RTN originally wanted to buy two Chinese submarines at 36 billion baht but China later offered a third sub at the same cost.
Dr Surachart Bamrungsook, a security expert at Chulalongkorn University, recently told BBC that RTN’s planned procurement of submarines would not respond to Thailand’s security need because Thailand is not engaged in a maritime conflict with any of its neighbours such as the conflict over Spratly islands.
Other non-military security agencies said what the RTN needs are surface ships to deal with piracy and human trafficking problems and Thailand does not have an enemy or a potential enemy in the future which should warrant the need of submarines.
And with Asean Economic Community coming up at the end of this year, there seems to be slim chance of open warfare between Thailand and its neighbours.
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