Thai navy eyes China as it seeks approval to buy first submarines in 65 years

Associated Press ^ | July 02, 2016

[sukhoi-30mki]

BANGKOK

[Enchante]

Great, so Obozo and Kerry have been driving the Thais into the arms of the ChiComs. We are ruled by such moronic losers.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Not exactly, the Thais have been close(r) with the Chinese for a pretty long time now, compared with the rest of South East Asian nations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naresuan-class_frigate

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/thailand/pattani.htm

[EagleUSA]

So the Thais become puppets of the ChiComs??? or maybe just more effective puppets...

[Riley]

I’ll bet the food will be good on board. :-)

[PanzerKardinal]

Another useless prestige item purchased by the Thai military.

Most don't realize that the Thai navy operates an aircraft carrier called the HTMS Chakri Naruebet. AKA "The Thai-tanic"

Because of the lack of funding, the ship rarely leaves port. And though it was designed to operate Harriers, the Thai Navy couldn't afford to operate the 9 Harriers it bought second hand from Spain.

Is used primarily as a royal yacht.

[ASA Vet]

Thai Pi_ng

[Charles Martel]

I think Dubya owns part of this mess, too. The U.S. had proposed construction of diesel subs (German design, to be built under license by Northrop-Grumman), but the Chinese pitched a fit and we put the deal aside. I think the Taiwanese explored other possibilities after 2008, but probably ran into the same problem repeatedly - nobody in the "West" wants to make the Chinese unhappy.

Well, recent-model Chinese boats are probably better than the WWII-era fleet that Taiwan currently operates.

[Enchante]

This is Thailand not Taiwan.

[LeoWindhorse]

Rawang ! Rua toke nam dai mot .....

[USMCPOP]

Yes. It’s getting them back to the surface that’s hard. :)