MP Wasawat Urges China to Halt Tank Deliveries to Cambodia

Matichon•Politics•3d ago

Reader Briefing

MP Wasawat Phuangphonsri calls for a suspension of the submarine budget and urges the Thai government to ask China to stop sending tanks to Cambodia.

•Wasawat Phuangphonsri, an MP and member of the budget committee, criticized the Ministry of Defence's spending priorities on July 17.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri proposed that the Prime Minister and Sihasak Phuangketkaew urge President Xi Jinping to delay delivering 40 T-59D tanks to Cambodia.
•The MP suggested suspending the budget for the procurement of submarines from China, which totals over 13,000 million baht.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri highlighted insufficient funding and manpower for soldiers at the border, specifically mentioning Ubon Ratchathani province.

Overview

•On July 17, Wasawat Phuangphonsri gave an interview at the Parliament regarding the 2027 budget bill.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri criticized the Ministry of Defence for spending on air-conditioned office equipment and guest reception instead of front-line soldiers.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri noted that in some border areas, manpower has decreased significantly from 20 personnel to only 4 personnel.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri mentioned that the Suranaree Force received only over 100 million baht from a total central budget request of over 600 million baht for years 68 and 69.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri urged the Prime Minister and Sihasak Phuangketkaew to request President Xi Jinping to slow down the delivery of 40 T-59D tanks to Cambodia.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri requested the budget committee to suspend the submarine budget because Cambodia does not have naval capabilities that can compete with Thailand.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri expressed confusion over budget increases for AI while the Ministry of Defence budgets for other units were reduced.
•Wasawat Phuangphonsri reported that Thai soldiers at the border are still using plastic sheets for bunkers while facing provocations from Cambodian soldiers.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Wasawat Phuangphonsri

"Instead of using the budget to buy electric chargers, souvenirs for foreign guests, and catering budgets, would it be better to give it to the small soldiers at the front line?"

แทนที่จะเอางบไปซื้อที่ชาร์จไฟฟ้า ซื้อของที่ระลึกรับรองแขกต่างประเทศ และงบจัดเลี้ยง เอาไปให้กับทหารตัวเล็กตัวน้อยที่หน้าแนวดีกว่าหรือไม่

Key Entities

Person

Wasawat Phuangphonsri(วสวรรธน์ พวงพรศรี)

A list MP, leader of the Thai Ruam Phalang Party, and member of the extraordinary committee considering the 2027 Budget Act.

Anutin(อนุทิน)ℹ️

A person urged by Wasawat Phuangphonsri to discuss tank deliveries with Xi Jinping.

Sihasak Phuangketkaew(สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว)

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Xi Jinping(สี จิ้นผิง)ℹ️

The President of China.

Organization

Thai Ruam Phalang Party(พรรคไทรวมพลัง)

The political party led by Wasawat Phuangphonsri.

Ministry of Defence(กระทรวงกลาโหม)ℹ️

The government body whose budget and procurement of equipment were criticized by Wasawat Phuangphonsri.

Royal Thai Navy(กองทัพเรือ)ℹ️

The military branch involved in the procurement of submarines from China.

Suranaree Force(กองกำลังสุรนารี)

A military force operating at the front line that received over 100 million baht in budget.

Place

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️

The country receiving T-59D tanks from China and having border tensions with Thailand.

China(จีน)ℹ️

The country providing tanks to Cambodia and submarines to Thailand.

Ubon Ratchathani Province(จังหวัดอุบลอุบลราชธานี)ℹ️

The area where Wasawat Phuangphonsri encountered border issues.

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where Wasawat Phuangphonsri gave his interview.

Law

Budget Expenditure Act 2027(พระราชบัญญัติงบประมาณรายจ่ายปี 2570)

The draft legislation being considered by the extraordinary committee.