Taiwan to build its own fleet of eight submarines

Feng Xue
By Feng Xue
April 5, 2017World News
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A senior Taiwanese navy official confirmed on Wednesday (April 5) that Taiwan will add eight Taiwanese-made submarines to its current fleet of four foreign-built vessels.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen toured the current fleet of submarines in Kaohsiung City last month and said that Taiwan needs to upgrade its defenses.

Taiwan has never built its own submarines before, it has relied on the United States for arms purchases, but strong objections from China in recent years have slowed the process.

The United States is obligated by law, the Taiwan Relations Act, to help Taiwan defend itself.

Navy chief of staff, Lee Tsung-hsiao, made the announcement days before Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The existing fleet of submarines was purchased from the Netherlands and the United States, newly proposed diesel-powered vessels will upgrade this ageing fleet.

Military and defense industry officials predicted that the first submarine will be in operation within 10 years.

 

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