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

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.

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.