A budget request for the procurement of its second and third submarines has been withdrawn, said the Royal Thai Navy, to respond to the present COVID-19 situation and help resolve conflicts in the society.
Regarding its decision on the budget request in fiscal 2022, the navy said it wanted to keep its expenditure at a proper level and it already asked China to extend the installment period for the two submarines to as long as six years.
In the 2022 fiscal year, the navy can pay only 900 million baht instead of 22.50 billion baht worth of the two submarines.
The 900-million-baht installment will be a part of the normal annual budget of the navy and is not a new budget request. The navy has yet to explain reasons for the extended installment period to the Chinese government to protect bilateral relations and ensure China will maintain its military support for the navy. (TNA)
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