Taiwan starts building submarine fleet amid military threats from Beijing

Domestically developed vessels will have US combat systems, with the first to be delivered to the navy by 2025

President Tsai Ing-wen says it’s a ‘milestone’ for the defence industry and shows Taipei’s determination to safeguard sovereignty

Reading Time:2 minutes

President Tsai Ing-wen said the made-in-Taiwan submarine was being rolled out “despite all the odds”. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 24 Nov 2020Updated: 10:03pm, 24 Nov 2020

Taiwan has started building its first domestically developed submarine, with a US combat system, as it tries to boost the self-ruled island’s defences against increasing military threats from Beijing.

President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday officiated at an inauguration ceremony for the submarine – the first of eight – which is due to be completed in the third quarter of 2024, with sea trials scheduled for 2025, according to the shipbuilder.

It will be armed with MK-48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology heavyweight torpedoes, UGM-84L sub-launched Harpoon Block II missiles, and other combat and digital sonar systems provided by US suppliers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, Taiwanese naval officials said.

“According to the contract … construction of the prototype submarine will take 78 months … and delivery of the sub to the navy will be made by 2025,” said Cheng Wen-lon, chairman of Taiwanese firm CSBC Shipbuilding, during the ceremony in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Tsai Ing-wen addresses the ceremony in Kaohsiung on Tuesday. Photo: AP

The shipbuilder was awarded the NT$49.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) contract to build a prototype submarine after Taiwan was unable to find a foreign supplier. Beijing has warned other countries against selling arms to Taiwan, which it considers to be part of its territory to be brought back under mainland control – by force if necessary.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x