The People’s Republic of China has been upgrading its navy for years, and now Taiwan is following suit: a self-produced submarine was presented for the first time. The island wants to arm itself against possible attacks.
The first self-produced submarine was launched in Kaohsiung on the island of Taiwan. At the ceremony with numerous invited guests from politics and the military, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen spoke of a milestone for the country’s defense preparedness.
“Our plan to build our own submarines to strengthen our combat power is primarily to protect Taiwan’s maritime borders. We hope that all political forces, the government and the opposition, will continue to put national security first and support the construction of more submarines,” said Tsai. “So that our defense industry also becomes more competitive on the global market.”
“New military threats from China”
Presidential Security Advisor Admiral Huang Shu-kuang plans to commission two more submarines by 2027. A strong submarine fleet is crucial to defending against possible attacks from China, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu emphasized in a press conference in Taipei, which was broadcast by the Reuters news agency.
“We have to deal with new military threats from China every day. That’s why we must continue to expand our defense capabilities. On land, in the air and also in the sea. New submarines are part of this strategy,” Wu said. He is a big supporter of a strong submarine program because that is needed to prevent war.
The submarine was christened “Narwhal” (“Hai Kun”). It is equipped with a combat system from the US defense company Lockheed Martin and is to be equipped with torpedoes manufactured in the USA. Exercises on the open sea are planned from October. From 2025, the “Narwal” should be fully operational in naval service.
Taiwan wants to build a total of eight submarines. The Navy currently has two operational submarines that it purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s. Washington approved the delivery of eight additional submarines in 2001, but the purchase was never completed.
China continues maneuvers around Taiwan
The People’s Republic of China announced yesterday that it would continue its maneuvers around Taiwan. This is intended to combat the “arrogance of the separatists” and their plans to achieve independence for Taiwan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian in Beijing: “As long as the provocations for Taiwan’s independence are not stopped, the People’s Liberation Army will also continue the actions in defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
This was preceded by a visit by an Australian delegation to Taipei. President Tsai Ing-wen called for Australia’s support for Taiwan’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement (CPTPP), to which eleven countries are currently members.
The People’s Republic of China insists on the one-China policy and considers Taiwan to be part of China. Any attempt by Taiwan to represent itself internationally as an independent state is accompanied by sharp protests from Beijing.