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Why Thailand, a US treaty ally, is stocking up on Chinese weapons
Bangkok’s recent purchases of Chinese military hardware include tanks, missiles and ships, while a submarine deal is back on track
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Thailand, a US treaty ally, has been adding to its arsenal of Chinese-made weapons with deals for ships, tanks and other high-value hardware.
Analysts put the trend down to pragmatic considerations.
The Royal Thai Army has finalised a deal to buy an additional batch of Chinese-made VN-1 armoured vehicles for 1 billion baht (US$32 million). This is expected to add around 20 new units to its existing fleet of more than 100 VN-1s, according to local media reports.
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How 1,000 Chinese J-20s could challenge US dominance in the Indo-Pacific
Report finds ‘dramatic increase’ over past five years in Beijing’s capacity to contest Western air power, citing ‘highly capable’ fighters
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By 2030, China could operate about 1,000 units of the J-20 fifth-generation fighter jet, possibly challenging the US and its allies’ air power projection near the first island chain, according to a British think tank.
A report this month by the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) found a “dramatic increase” in the past five years in China’s capacity to contest Western air power, citing the production of “modern and highly capable” fourth- and fifth-generation fighters.
While the RUSI’s last estimate of Chinese combat air strength in 2020 suggested that the People’s Liberation Army was operating about 50 J-20 fighters at the time, its assessment in mid-2025 showed that the PLA Air Force was fielding about 300 J-20s.
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