The Royal Thai Navy will hold talks with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) on June 9 about a contractual dispute regarding the engine to be fitted in the S26T Yuan-class submarine being built for the navy. According to a source, the vice president of CSOC will meet navy chief of staff Adm Tharoengsak Sirisawat after Germany’s MTU 396 refused to sell the engines to China as they are designated a military/defence item. CSOC has asked the navy to alter the contract to allow the use of a Chinese-built alternative, such as the MWM 620, which it claims to be of the same standard,…