Bangladesh, Pakistan set to get Chinese submarines

China has also signed an agreement with Pakistan to sell two Type 035G Ming-class diesel-electric submarines to Bangladesh China will provide submarines to Bangladesh and Pakistan, Times of India reported on Saturday. India's submarine crisis comes just around the time China has begun arming two other neighbors, Bangladesh and Pakistan, with submarines. China has also introduced new nuclear submarines that have caused a flutter in Washington, the report said. Jane's weekly quoting a senior Pakistani official says China is set to sell up to six submarines to Pakistan by end of 2014.

 

China has also signed an agreement with Pakistan to sell two Type 035G Ming-class diesel-electric submarines to Bangladesh, reports from Dhaka said recently. The New Age newspaper said the deal was valued $206 million. China has promised to deliver the submarines to Bangladesh Navy by 2019.

 

 "Technical details are almost done. The present discussions are mainly about the financing details," a senior Pakistan official told Jane's. The journal said a second Pakistani government official confirmed that "the contract is at an advanced stage and discussions won't linger on for too long. Realistically, we should have a deal by end 2014." Islamabad is expected to buy China's S20 or Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK). At present, the Pakistani Navy operates five French submarines; three Agosta 90B (Khalid-class) submarines purchased in the 1990s and two ageing Agosta 70 (Hashmat-class) boats dating from the late 1970s. Pakistan's ambitious defence planners are also pushing China for selling submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles. But western diplomats say China may be reluctant to hand over such sophisticated equipment fearing harsh reactions from Washington.

 

Another of India's neighbours, Myanmar is using Chinese experts to train its submarine personnel. It also sent a contingent of navy personnel for submarine warfare training in Pakistan in mid-2013.

 

Myanmar has announced plans to build its own fleet of submarines, and is expected to look towards Russia for supplies.