The navy was forced to defend its Chinese submarine purchase again yesterday following a renewed attack on the procurement by deputy Pheu Thai Party leader Yutthapong Charasathian.
Mr Yutthapong, a staunch critic of the purchase, again questioned its legitimacy and raised the possibility that the navy might not get what it signed up for amid reports that China has encountered problems in purchasing submarine engines from Germany.
Navy spokesman, Vice Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin, reaffirmed that the submarine contract was a legitimate government-to-government deal and its legality had been vetted by agencies including the Office of the Attorney-General and the Budget Bureau before it was submitted to the cabinet for approval. The navy was authorised by the Thai government while China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) was authorised by China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence to sign the contract, he said.
VAdm Pokkrong also countered the MP's claim that the navy was duped into buying the submarine with no engines, saying the navy has stood firm on engine specifications and China would have to honour the contract.
Mr Yutthapong claimed to have received information that the CSOC would replace the German engine with a Chinese-made one after the German manufacturer refused to sell the engine to China.
Under the contract, the S26T Yuan-class submarine must be powered by engines supplied by the German firm MTU.
VAdm Pokkrong said that due to an embargo, the export of diesel engines for submarines required approval from the German government and the navy and the CSOC were discussing the issue and trying to figure out how it could be resolved.
He said any steps taken would be in strict compliance with the law and in the country's best interests.
Talking about construction of a submarine base, the navy spokesman said the 857-million-baht project was under the supervision of the Naval Public Works Department.