bangkok thailand defense technology agency plan set joint center china produce maintain military equipment late sign strengthen security relationship since 2014 coup plan establish facility discussions chinese naval center serve submarine thailand order year point grow chinese security presence old u.s. ally region elsewhere southeast asia thai government defence technology institute dti set thailand first commercial joint defense facility china northeastern province khon kaen july defense ministry spokesman say responsible assembly production maintenance chinese land weapon systems thai army production domestic official usage defense ministry spokesman kongcheep tantravanich tell reuters add could become assembly maintenance center state association southeast asian nations asean specific detail say subject discussions ministry china north industries corporation norinco make tank weapons among heavy equipment norinco respond immediately email request comment website describe pioneer leader chinese military trade important team implement china go global strategy kongcheep say chinese would provide train technology transfer detail chinese personnel khon kaen among things discuss chinese defense ministry respond contact reuters comment china become increasingly important source weapons thailand particularly since unite state western countries downgrade tie army seize power 2014. major purchase since 2015 include order 49 chinese tank 34 armor vehicles worth 320 million much army buy countries although also order helicopters russia unite state big chinese purchase royal thai navy order three submarine cost billion thai chinese armies air force begin joint exercise complement thailand continue drill u.s. force civilian front thailand china plan development high-speed rail link part beijing belt road initiative relations unite state warm however particularly since new u.s. president donald trump host junta leader prayuth chan-ocha white house joint weapons manufacture center khon kaen apparently similar one pakistan could complement china grow military presence neighbor cambodia say paul chamber research thai military regional security open door potential grow chinese military influence mainland southeast asia say chamber naresuan university northern thai province phitsanulok new legislation take effect next year allow thailand defence technology institute operate commercial basis remain entirely government ownership thailand defence ministry say government also hold preliminary discussions ukraine russia south africa joint defense manufacture facilities similar deal china thailand plan joint arm factory china