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| Chinese MBT-3000 also known as the VT-4 Main Battle Tank |
Army chief denies West out of favour
WRITER: WASSANA NANUAM
More Chinese armaments are likely to be procured by the government, says the army commander in chief, while denying Thailand has shifted policy to procure military hardware from China rather than Western countries.
Gen Chalermchai Sittisat said the government was also mulling a Thai-Chinese joint venture to start a defence and weapons industry in Thailand.
More purchases of military hardware from China may help shape the policy, he said.
The army chief denied speculation the armed forces have switched to China after relying on the United States and Western nations for such deals, saying several factors would be taken into account.
The US-made M-41 tanks purchased since 1957 would soon need to be decommissioned and the army would have to find new ones to replace them, he said.
"So, this has nothing to do with whether the army will shift to purchasing weapons from China as some have speculated. But the point is Thailand wants to create a new industry in the country... and we have to make this happen," he said.
Read the full story at BangkokPost