Thai Army vows to delay military purchases amid contagion crisis

[webfact]

Army vows to delay military purchases amid contagion crisis

By The Nation

 

 

The Army will delay the purchase of military equipment in order to prioritise national recovery efforts in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Defence Ministry announced on Wednesday (April 8 ).

 

Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said cuts to the 2020 budget for military equipment and projects were being considered, since the country needed to heal after the pandemic.

 

The Defence Ministry was well aware of what needed to be prioritised for future situations. The military’s mission was to protect and help the people, and support the government in solving national problems while maintaining the availability of troops and military equipment to protect the country.

 

"Any [military procurement] project that can be delayed without affecting foreign contracts must be delayed. The Army is currently considering which projects will come under the 2020 budget, and will continue to discuss the projects in the 2021 budget," said Kongcheep.

 

The spokesman pointed out that 2020 budget funds had already spent and military contracts under the budget may have binding contracts.

 

As for the pending purchase of submarines under the 2021 budget – a controversial matter at this time of national crisis – the spokesman said that Navy is considering the matter and related legal regulations carefully, realizing that budget must be used to restore the nation and economy as well.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30385631

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-09

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[Justgrazing]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

As for the pending purchase of submarines under the 2021 budget – a controversial matter at this time of national crisis – the spokesman said that Navy is considering the matter and

has now decided to go for a cheaper clockwork one for patrolling shallow soapy waters .. 

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Justgrazing
Sp

[Grumpy John]

Lets see some hard numbers.  Talk can be a load of hot air with no substance.

[smedly]

one of the major problems in this country - the military operates independent of the government and they shouldn't, military budget and how much and when to spend and on what should be 100% under the control of central government

[Denim]

15 hours ago, smedly said:

 the military operates independent of the government 

 

Not really. The military are the government.

 

Until real democracy returns the military will continue to do what they like , when they like , without having to ask by or leave from anyone and without any transparency or accountability.

[whaleboneman]

28 minutes ago, smedly said:

one of the major problems in this country - the military operates independent of the government and they shouldn't, military budget and how much and when to spend and on what should be 100% under the control of central government

i think it is. government, military, aww never mind.

[Surelynot]

This is very concerning. I'm already on a knife edge with Covid19. What if Laos suddenly decide to sweep in through Isan, or we suddenly need submarines to defend against a Malaysian surface attack. NOT HAPPY.

[mok199]

Only because Kerry is ''swamped''.....

[BobbyL]

Good to see that the sacred Thai military are doing something for the general public. 

[mfd101]

Looks like the subs will be diving for cover ...

[fforest1]

Absolutely NO to scuttling the subs.....The Thais might lose face if the sub order is canceled......Who cares if 10 million people are now jobless.....Face #1.....

[justin case]

how does the army deal with this, all bunked together

 

the grunts that is, not the elites in their free housing

[worgeordie]

They need to cancel all purchases for weapons of war,who is the enemy,

This time they are been beaten by an enemy they cannot see with the naked

eye,Covid 19 is the latest and most serious virus to come out of China,the

next one ,and there will be a new Virus,could be airborne,and spread even

more quickly.this is the battle countries now need to fight.

 

We don't need more tanks,subs,guns,planes,battleships, the whole World

now needs to wake up,it's more Hospitals,specialised health equipment,

Schools,improved education, train more Doctors,Teachers, not Soldiers.

 

Regards Worgeordie

 

 

[donnacha]

"All the money is gone" said surprised Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich, "It turns out that our entire economy actually was dependent on tourism after all"

 

 

[Yadon Toploy]

With the constant threat of invasion from the warlike nations on the borders, namely Burma, Cambodia and Laos, I have to wonder if this has been thought through properly?

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

We don't need more tanks,subs,guns,planes,battleships, the whole World

now needs to wake up,it's more Hospitals,specialised health equipment,

Schools,improved education, train more Doctors,Teachers, not Soldiers.

Yeah but yeah but, all those generals need toys.

[HappyinNE]

How about getting rid of the excess Generals and Admirals.  Could cut by half and not miss them.  Really should cut by 90%.  Look at the rest of the world.

[ubon farang]

What about the 1400 generals thailand has  You could reduce that by about 1350 Generals and still have enough. Hahaha

[kensawadee]

3 hours ago, BobbyL said:

Good to see that the sacred Thai military are doing something for the general public. 

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS??????? The Thai gov't has alredy 'ordered' all that hardware and is expected to pay for it once it is finished the construction process..... Subs may take a couple years.......

The present Thai gov't has no real concerns 'OTHER THAN' It's military .......

As for Thai people and the gov't's concern..... The 'Hiso' Thais have enough money to take care of themselves.... The 'LoSo' Thais (Thai Poor folks).... Not to worry, They are of no real value...... IN THE GOV'T VIEW......... 

So the Gov't will talk up this stuff but.... Talk is all they will do.... This present bunch....

[kensawadee]

And They expct people will have more faith in them because people THINK they are being placed ahead of the military toys BUT, did you notice the word 'DELAYED' ???? That gives them credit for putting the Thai people first when actually they could delay just a week..... But they feel they got a 'BIG FACE' for today......... and that is good enough..........

[SupermarineS6B]

5 hours ago, Surelynot said:

This is very concerning. I'm already on a knife edge with Covid19. What if Laos suddenly decide to sweep in through Isan, or we suddenly need submarines to defend against a Malaysian surface attack. NOT HAPPY.

Malaysia's already got submarines and Laos has an old elephant with a swiss Army knife........ Both could probably do La la Land......  The last time the Cambodians had a poke at them with the remnants of the Khmer Rouge over the (Cambodian Temple) you could hear the Armys ring pieces rattling down here in Bkk..... Don't worry, Thailand always surrenders......... With grace of course.... 

Edited April 9, 2020 by SupermarineS6B

[SupermarineS6B]

The best thing they could do is what they're good at, surrender and give all the money back to the people....  Because we all know they couldn't fight a cold........  6 hrs last time someone poked a stick at them, not long enough to get a brew on...... 

[SupermarineS6B]

1 hour ago, kensawadee said:

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS??????? The Thai gov't has alredy 'ordered' all that hardware and is expected to pay for it once it is finished the construction process..... Subs may take a couple years.......

The present Thai gov't has no real concerns 'OTHER THAN' It's military .......

As for Thai people and the gov't's concern..... The 'Hiso' Thais have enough money to take care of themselves.... The 'LoSo' Thais (Thai Poor folks).... Not to worry, They are of no real value...... IN THE GOV'T VIEW......... 

So the Gov't will talk up this stuff but.... Talk is all they will do.... This present bunch....

They all know that when this virus craps over they're gonna get the b-jesus kicked out of them...... The people have had enough of action men characters..... and rightly so........ Silly little kids with a fetish for uniforms........ 

 

[SupermarineS6B]

Sorry lads, no Cpt Nemo this year......  But we do have an old Aircraft Carrier that we've never used....  Go and Play with that...... Oh and see if you can find a pilot to get one of those Harriers off the deck without splattering himself...... 

 

As for the pending purchase of submarines under the 2021 budget – a controversial matter at this time of national crisis – the spokesman said that Navy is considering the matter and related legal regulations carefully, realizing that budget must be used to restore the nation and economy as well.

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, SupermarineS6B said:

The best thing they could do is what they're good at, surrender and give all the money back to the people....  Because we all know they couldn't fight a cold........  6 hrs last time someone poked a stick at them, not long enough to get a brew on...... 

I thought that it was 5 Hours

[mikebell]

Cancel the orders now we've had our commission.