TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Plans by Thailand’s navy to buy two submarines from China face an uphill battle over the price tag amid the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, reports said Wednesday (Aug. 26).

The project barely survived a committee meeting, and more politicians have been voicing doubts about the 22.5 billion baht (NT$21 billion, US$717.8 million) price, as they say the money could be better spent reviving the economy, Bangkok Post reported.

The military, which plays an influential role in Thai politics, has argued that it needs more submarines because several other countries in the region have expanded their submarine fleets. Singapore, Indonesia, and even neighboring Myanmar have been working to double their own, the navy said.

Thailand already has signed a deal to buy one Yuan-class S26T submarine, reputedly one of the quietest vessels of its type. Delivery is scheduled for 2023, but the navy has been warily eyeing Myanmar's purchase of a sub from India.

Plans are reportedly afoot in neighboring Myanmar, which disputes three islands in the Andaman Sea with Thailand, to buy more subs from China, Russia, or India.

However, a vote in a parliamentary subcommittee last week nearly sank the Thai Royal Navy's plans for two more Chinese subs. The vote ended in a four-to-four tie, with the subcommittee chairman casting the decisive ballot in favor of the plan.

The narrow win triggered a wave of criticism, with critics saying the money was needed to help the country’s economy survive the coronavirus pandemic. While Thailand has so far been relatively successful containing infections, its massive tourism industry has suffered.

In 2019, the country welcomed more than 39 million visitors, but this year, 8 million is one of the more optimistic estimates, as a ban on incoming travel has decimated employment in the sector.