Deputy PM affirms transparancy of submarine purchasing deal

BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) -- Deputy Premier/Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon affirmed that the purchasing of submarines from China has been done in accordance to procedures and with transparency. The minister confirmed that the purchasing of a Yuan Class S26T submarine from China under a budget of 13.5 billion baht has been approved by the Cabinet, since it is beneficial and with the appropriate price when compared to the offered from nine other countries. Moreover, Gen Prawit said the submarine comes equip with extra underwater ammunition and missiles. He said the navy must have a submarine in order to efficiently look after the natural marine resources on the Andaman coast, as well as to increase military security since neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore all have at least one submarine. He stressed that he did not inform the general public of the purchase after the project has been approved by the Cabinet straight away because it is confidential. Gen Prawit further noted that the purchasing process was done with transparency as it was completed under a G2G contract not as a barter trade. A committee from the Royal Thai Navy had carefully consider the proposals provided by nine countries before it had chosen to purchase the sub from China and proposed the project to the Cabinet, said the minister, adding that the navy is set to use its committed budget to make purchase of three submarines for 36 billion baht and would receive all three subs within 11 years. (END)