China targets further Thai arms sales
On the back of a recent sale of VT4 main battle tanks (MBT), China is making a major push to sell further armoured vehicles to Thailand and to ASEAN. This was indicated during the bilateral Blue Strike exercise with the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC), where the appearance of amphibious armoured vehicles greatly interested the hosts.
As the US decreased military aid and scaled-back collaboration with Thailand in the past two years, China has taken the opportunity to step in and increase its security relationship.
Last year, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and armed forces commanders visited China, and high-ranking Chinese officers
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