China has offered two used Song-class submarines to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), but they need to be reconditioned before they can become operable, according to the RTN.
A Chinese state enterprise in charge of managing decommissioned Chinese submarines reportedly approached the Thai military attaché in Beijing, offering to deliver the submarines to Thailand, but they did not specify whether the submarines were to be provided free of charge or whether there will a token charge as a gesture of friendship.
The matter had been raised by China with a working committee of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, but there has been no confirmation.
RTN Commander-in-Chief Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai was to propose China’s offer to RTN Chief-of-Staff Admiral Talerngsak Sirisawat, who is in charge of the RTN’s submarine procurement project.
In order to proceed with further talks with the Chinese state company, more details about the reported offer are necessary. The RTN expects the two decommissioned submarines to be donated to Thailand.
Previously, China donated two decommissioned Ming-class submarines to Myanmar.
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