Thailand places $1bn order for Chinese submarines

Kraisorn Chansuvanich, Thailand navy chief, on Thursday said the country has placed a- 36 billion baht, approximately $1.1 billion dollars order for three Chinese-made submarines as it seeks to boost its naval power.

The navy picked the Chinese offer after looking at alternatives bids from six countries, including Germany, France and Russia.

The subs, the first in the Thai fleet, are to be commissioned in the next six to seven years.

The Thai government has in the past said it needs a bigger navy to protect its 3,219-kilometre coastline.