Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported on Monday that China is making fresh inroads in the Indian Ocean region by selling cheap submarines to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand.
The bargain-basement sub sales are said to be alarming India, which is increasingly concerned about Beijing’s continuing naval advances in Asian waters, as well as the Pacific.
China also has a submarine presence in the Indian Ocean. Asahi quotes Indian military sources as saying that the Chinese Navy has been operating submarines since 2013 in the Indian Ocean. The missions are said to occur twice yearly and typically last about three months.
Bangladesh was the first to acquire relatively inexpensive Chinese subs when it bought two used Ming-class diesel-powered vessels in 2013. The subs became operational in March 2017.
Low as $100 million
One local military source estimated the cost of each of the Bangladeshi subs at US$100 million. This is said to be one-tenth of the price of a new European submarine.
In April 2017, Thailand agreed to buy two new Yuan-class subs. The Yuans are reportedly two classes more advanced than the Mings bought by Bangladesh. Asahi quoted a Thai government source as saying each sub will cost about US$424 million.
Bangkok is considering purchasing two more Yuan subs.
A proposal was also made during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in 2015 for Islamabad to acquire eight Chinese submarines. China confirmed the existence of the plan in 2016. The eight will be Yuan-class subs. Four are expected to be constructed in Pakistan.
Asahi says China’s new focus on the Indian Ocean is part of a shift in maritime strategy from coastal and near-sea defense to one that extends to the Pacific and Indian oceans. The strategy puts more emphasis on aircraft carriers and submarines — which China has been building at an accelerated rate.
Spin-offs for Beijing
The purchase of Chinese submarines by Indian Ocean littoral states has several spin-off benefits for Beijing. Asahi notes it allows Beijing to extend its influence in related maritime areas. For example, harbors capable of hosting the submarines will be constructed.
Nations that buy Chinese subs must also install repair and supply facilities that match specifications required for handling these types of Chinese vessels.
“This gives China the option of asking that its submarines be allowed to temporarily berth there for repairs or to acquire weapons,” Asahi said.
The more submarines China sells to regional nations, the more data it will amass that is related to operations and potential challenges. All this can be used to improve China’s sub technology, experts told Asahi.
Countries purchasing Chinese subs must also rely on Chinese naval officers and technicians for advice on operations and maintenance. “Those personnel could also play a key role in gathering vital information, including seabed mapping, as China strives to improve its submarine capabilities,” Asahi said.
Egypt and Cuba are reportedly among the other countries that have expressed an interest in buying Chinese submarines.
Woo that’s great and China will cry you ????
Ha ha ha ha. Just afraid of the rise of real super power? China and Russia must rule the world within next 3 years
Sale of submarines to India’s neighbors should not alarm New Delhi… IF SAARC worked. But the "South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation" is anthying but "cooperative" . It is downright antagonistic with massive India aiming for the jugular of her neighbors.
If India could actually make SAARC work in a similar manner to ASEAN sales of Submarines to India’s neighbors would be welcome since these neighbors are also allies.
I don’t think you are polite in any way , just a wolf in sheep skin !
Merlin Geikie You know GUN POWDER was invented by China ? Everyone of you copied from one another & now you open your big mouth.
Cheap subs! What do you do with them! I eat them, for they cost only $ 3.99 only at Harvey’s!
Chinese submarines are not ten times cheaper than western submarines, the claim is baseless. If Bangladesh bought the Ming class submarine for $100m each then a western submarine would need to cost $1bn to be 10 times more. There is no diesel submarine in the world at this price. A German diesel submarine would cost around $500m so 5 times more but not 10 times more.
These subs are a lot cheaper than Thai Junta claim
Codie Kidd i think you are under the influence of marijuana
India and Bangladesh are all wether friends.
Great.. More nations get to play with subs.. The more the merrier.
@Cris Alojado, the ‘Province of China’ had it’s own democratically elected government, separate currency and military, self-ruled for 70 years, before which it was ruled by Japan for 50… that’s an unusual ‘province’….
" Bangladesh is surrounded by three sides by India that why bangladesh has a better economic, cultural n historic relations with India " !!!!!!! Really ?? India always sell this shitty logic. It’s a bull shit logic. Do you know more than 80% bangladeshi are extremely anti indian ? Do you know because of indian intellegence agency RAW bangladesh had suffered more than 20 years of civil war from 1973 to 1996 ….just like indian intellegence agency RAW did to Sri lanka using LTTE. Do you know this ? Reading this you can guess what you of relationship india have with Bangladesh. India only have relation with some bangladeshi political leader but not bangladeshi people.
Thailand n Bangladesh both are India’s strategic partners !!!!??? What ? Indian people’s are learned this type shitty fake news from their shitty media which is famous for their propaganda news/fake news AND indian shitty military experts also responsible to believe indian people about " Thailand n Bangladesh both are India’s strategic partners !!!!??? ". Anyway, Bangladesh has better economic and military relationship with china than any other country. You should do your homework.
Merlin Geikie The Japanese Samurai has a very sharp sword that kills himself.
Thailand is not at all n will never become threat to India… Bangladesh is surrounded by three sides by India n it has better economic, cultural n historic relations with India.why they pretend to be enemy of India ever? Thailand n Bangladesh both are India’s strategic partners…we dn’t think their military capabilities are deterrent against us…. Terroristan(so called Pakistan) is failing state..we dn’t care abt it…
I wonder how many Thai generals will be wearing new watches. Next big war will be China and India,fighting for regional supremacy. Known it for over a decade. Did not do that useless masters program for nothing in ’75,in International relations. You get a choice. Mandarin or Hindi! Signed…a cynic
A new strategy to extend China’s military and political influences.
First ask what your country will do with submarines and fighter Plane? Because you have no capacity to use these.
Merlin Geikie
You are just a dog following the Westerners, ignorant & stupid !
Let people buy the subs, they are not going to work well, the batteries will go flat, shortly before they capsize.
Most made in China stuff is poor quality… Right?