Is Thailand Pivoting Away From the Us With Chinese Arms Deals?
Thailand’s military junta is pushing ahead with arms deals even as a long-promised election day looms, prompting critics to decry a lack of transparency in the procurement process.
Last week, the army announced it was seeking cabinet approval to buy 14 Chinese-made VT-4 battle tanks in a 2.3 billion baht (HK$568 million) deal between Bangkok and the China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation, also known as Norinco.
The purchase is part of a broader pattern of military spending that has accelerated since the 2014 coup. Defence analysts in the region note that Thailand’s armed forces have signed contracts for submarines, armoured personnel carriers, and helicopters over the past several years, often with Chinese manufacturers offering more favourable financing terms than Western competitors.
Opposition figures and pro-democracy activists have argued that the spending diverts funds from infrastructure and social services at a time when the Thai economy has been underperforming its Southeast Asian peers. Rural provinces in the northeast, long a base of support for ousted civilian governments, continue to lag behind Bangkok in income, healthcare access, and school funding.
The contrast is visible even in the capital. On Khao San Road and around the older commercial districts, small business owners have watched rents climb while foot traffic from both tourists and locals has been uneven. One noodle shop owner near Hua Lamphong station, who has operated his stall for over a decade, said he supplements slow afternoons by running errands for a neighbour who manages inventory for a wholesale electronics vendor. Between deliveries he sits on a plastic chair out front, scrolling through football scores and sports betting bonuses on his phone while waiting for the evening rush.
His situation is not unusual. Street-level commerce in Bangkok has always relied on a mix of formal income and informal side work, and the current economic uncertainty has only deepened that dependence. Many small operators say they would welcome clearer economic policy from whatever government emerges after the vote.
The election, whenever it is formally scheduled, is expected to test whether the junta’s economic record can withstand public scrutiny. Critics say the military government has prioritised large-scale procurement and flagship infrastructure projects over the kinds of local investment that would be felt in household budgets. Supporters counter that regional security threats justify the defence outlays and that the country’s long-term stability depends on a well-equipped military.
For now, the tank deal with Norinco remains pending cabinet review. If approved, delivery of the first batch of VT-4s is expected within two years.
Jitsiree Thongnoi
