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We are writing a report on Chinese arms sales to South East Asia. We request your
assessment of the following issues:
Q1) In a general sense, why are Chinese weapons attractive to potential buyers?
ANSWER: Chinese weapons are robust, price competitive in the market place, may
involve technology transfer and/or loans, and are provided without the onerous
approval process the U.S. applies to arms sale. In some cases, such as Indonesia after
East Timor and Thailand after the 2014 coup, U.S. sales of spare parts and other
equipment may be withheld. This opens the door for Chinese arms sales.
Q2) Why have countries in the region like Thailand and Indonesia turned to China for
weapons? What are their strategic calculations? In the case of Indonesia, why is
Jakarta seeking closer ties with Beijing despite the former being traditionally
suspicious of the latter?
ANSWER: If you take a ten-year look at arms procurements by Indonesia and Thailand
you will note that arms sales are not a recent phenomenon.
In 2005-09, for example Indonesia ordered C-802 anti-ship missiles, portable surface
to air missiles, and air search radar from China. Indonesia, which has a domestic
shipbuilding industry, has also sought to acquire armaments to fit its warships such as
naval guns and anti-ship missiles.
The United States has been and continues to be a major supplier of military platforms
and equipment for Indonesia such as light aircraft, Bell-412 helicopters, Apache
combat helicopters and F-16C fighters. Indonesia also procures spare parts for its
aircraft. Other purchases include: Longbow helicopter combat radar, anti-tank
missiles, and anti-submarine warfare sonar.
The record of Indonesias procurements do not support a trend of closer ties with
Beijing at the expense of the United States. Indonesia appears to mix and match its
weapon systems and platforms.
Over the last ten years Thailand has acquired Chinese Ocean Patrol Vessels and anti-
ship missiles. Thailand has also purchased weapons from China following border
clashes with Cambodia in 2008 such as self-propelled multiple rocket launchers (MRL),
artillery locating radar and surface to air missiles. Since the 2014 coup, Thailand has
procured more artillery locating radar, surface to air missiles and battle tanks.
2
always raises the question of what will happen at a time of crisis. Can these systems
be properly managed or will they be immediately used to devastating effect inviting a
response?
Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, Chinas Arms Sales to Southeast Asia, Thayer
Consultancy Background Brief, August 30, 2017. All background briefs are posted on
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
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