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Thailand and Cambodia Strengthen Ties with China

Thailand and Cambodia Strengthen Ties with China
Chinese Tanks © Armored Warfare

Thailand's government yesterday agreed to buy 10 tanks from China for US$58 million (S$81 million), while Cambodia told a United States Navy unit its services were no long needed, in another sign of the South-east Asian countries strengthening ties with Beijing.

The Thai military is replacing its US-made M41 rolling stock with Chinese VT-4 tanks, as it continues to upgrade its equipment three years after seizing power from a civilian government.

The South-east Asian country has already snapped up 28 Chinese tanks and secured around US$380 million for a submarine - with cash being sought for two more.

Yesterday, the Cabinet approved the purchase of 10 more VT-4s for around 2 billion baht (S$81 million), Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters. "These are to replace the M41 tanks which we have used since World War II," he said.

 

The Thai and US military engaging in a live-fire exercise in north-eastern Thailand on Feb 24. Thailand's Cabinet yesterday approved the $81-million purchase of 10 Chinese tanks to replace US-made rolling stock. Image: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The Thai and US military engaging in a live-fire exercise in north-eastern Thailand on Feb 24. Thailand's Cabinet yesterday approved the $81-million purchase of 10 Chinese tanks to replace US-made rolling stock. Image: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

 

China has soaked up Thai defence spending. That has raised questions over the kingdom's relationship with its oldest ally - the US - whose own policies towards Thailand and the rest of South-east Asia have been cast into uncertainty by the rise of protectionist President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, in Cambodia, the departure of the US Navy mobile construction battalion (Seabees) meant the cancellation of 20 planned projects, including at schools and hospitals, the US Embassy said on Monday.

"Last week, the Royal Government of Cambodia notified the embassy of its decision to postpone indefinitely the Seabees programme," the embassy said.

Cambodia has gone further than other South-east Asian nations in courting China, and the shift away from Washington has continued under President Trump despite Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's professed admiration for him.

Last year, Beijing held a joint naval drill with Cambodia for the first time. Cambodia's army has benefited from Chinese training and equipment, including jeeps, rocket launchers and helicopters.


Source : Agence France-Presse | Reuters | The Straits Times

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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