Gaijin announced Thailand ground vehicles will be added to Japan in next update. as same as Thailand Airplanes which were implemented a long ago.
And maybe there were unconfirmed leaks abouts ‘Thai VT4 will be added to japan!!!’, and it made Chinese playerbases rage and worried.
Because of those complicated problems.
Then Smin officially confirmed that [Thai VT4 isn’t part of Thai vehicles in the September update].
But still, there are many Chinese players who are worried about adding VT4 itself.
In principle, the idea of adding a Thai sub-tree to the Japanese tech tree can work within War Thunder’s established design approach. Thailand operates a wide variety of imported and locally adapted vehicles, ranging from Western and Soviet designs to indigenous modifications. Many of these could fill historical and gameplay gaps in Japan’s lineups, especially at low- and mid-tiers.
This would follow precedents like South Africa under Britain or Finland under Sweden, where smaller nations’ forces are grouped with larger trees for accessibility and balance. Properly implemented, a Thai sub-tree could increase gameplay diversity for Japanese ground forces while offering players unique vehicles that are historically consistent with Thailand’s procurement history.
However, the inclusion of the VT-4 within such a sub-tree creates a separate issue. The VT-4 is entirely designed, manufactured, and owned by China, with no developmental or operational ties to Japan. Thailand’s purchase of the tank represents a straightforward export deal, not a joint program or modification that would historically connect the vehicle to Japan.
From the perspective of historical authenticity, placing a Chinese-produced modern MBT under the Japanese tech tree — even indirectly via the Thai sub-tree — blurs clear lines between design origin and operator. This breaks with War Thunder’s usual placement logic and risks being perceived as inconsistent or arbitrary.
For the Chinese player community, the indirect placement does not mitigate cultural sensitivities. The reaction is based on the symbolic association of the vehicle with Japan in-game, regardless of the procurement route. Current community feedback shows that this would provoke a strong negative response, potentially leading to significant player loss in the Chinese market and negative coverage in regional gaming media.
That’s actually the preferred option from what I remember. Honestly I wouldn’t be opposed to it myself considering all their neat options they have for vehicle additions.
The other option discussed and the one that seemed to have the most support, was adding it to Japan with Thailand as part of a mega Sub TT. Also conveniently eliminated the need for Chinese stuff like the VT-4 to pop up.
There are plenty of vehicles in sub trees that are simply exports from other nations and still placed in a different nation
Finnish f18
Half of South African sub tree
And some more
But then again
That brings inconsistency regarding which nations can be grouped together and which can’t
Polish Leo
Chech ussr vehicles
Italian and Hungarian sub tree lol
Either way the solution is easy
It’s already not coming this update
So it’s not gonna be added during a sensitive irl time period
It could be added sometime may during Thai day
Give it a Thai name
Add it as a Thai event vehicle
Make sure it’s not merged in with Japanese vehicles but has its own line
Essentially enforcing the sentiment that it’s not a Japanese vehicle
But purely Thai
Fine, when you mention “consistency”, let’s group it.
First, when you are talking about historical consistency, like Czech vehicles in the USSR tree, Hungary with Italy. These are based on past alliances, occupation, or long-term equipment sharing that’s well-established historically.
When you are talking about modern partnerships, like Finnish F-18s, Polish Leopards. These come from current alliances or defense relationships that make in-game placement understandable to most players.
The VT-4 is neither — it’s a current Chinese-designed MBT with no historical tie to Japan and no modern defense partnership linking the two. That’s why players see it as different from those other cases, even if they’re also exports.
I feel like most of the conversations and arguments overlook the point that it’s going to be added in “Thai” sub tree because it’s used by Thailand…It’s not the “Japanese Tank” but a Thai tank…
