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KAOHSIUNG: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen promised on Tuesday (November 24) to defend the sovereignty of the democratic island with the construction of a new fleet of domestically developed submarines, a key project supported by the United States to counter the neighboring China.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has been working for years to renew its submarine force, some of which date back to WWII, and is no match for China’s fleet, which includes vessels capable of launching weapons. nuclear.
In a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new submarine fleet in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, Tsai called the move a “historic milestone” for Taiwan’s defensive capabilities after overcoming “various challenges and doubts.”
“The construction demonstrates the strong will of Taiwan towards the world to protect its sovereignty,” he told the event, which was also attended by the de facto US ambassador to Taiwan, Brent Christensen.
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“The submarines are important equipment for developing the asymmetric warfare capabilities of the Taiwan navy and for deterring enemy ships from surrounding Taiwan.”
In 2018, the US government gave the green light for US manufacturers to participate in the program, a move that is seen as helping Taiwan insure major components, although it is unclear which US companies are involved.
The state-backed CSBC Corporation Taiwan said it would deliver the first of eight planned submarines in 2025, giving Tsai’s military modernization and self-reliance plan a major boost.
Company president Cheng Wen-lung said they had faced significant challenges, including difficulty in procuring parts, as well as “external forces hindering the development of this program.”
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Taiwan’s armed forces are mostly equipped by the United States, but Tsai has prioritized the development of an advanced local defense industry.
In June, Tsai oversaw the first public test flight of a new locally designed and manufactured advanced training aircraft.
Chinese forces have intensified their military activities near Taiwan, at times flying fighter jets through the unofficial midline buffer of the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
