KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s president launched the island’s first domestically made submarine for testing Thursday at a port in Kaohsiung.
If the submarine passes its tests, it will represent a significant achievement for Taiwan in the fields of shipbuilding and design.
“At the launch ceremony, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed that in the past, it was deemed impossible to create a submarine domestically. However, today we proudly present a submarine that has been designed and constructed by our fellow countrymen.”
She stated that constructing a submarine is the tangible manifestation of our determination to safeguard our nation. Submarines play a crucial role in enabling the Taiwan navy to enhance their strategic and tactical capabilities through asymmetric combat power.
The United States has been urging Taiwan to enhance its asymmetric warfare tactics by allocating resources towards the development of smaller and lighter weaponry, like the compact submarine.
Cheng Wen-lon, the leader of the submarine construction project from Taiwan’s CSBC Corp., described the process as extremely difficult and challenging.
“At the ceremony held in CSBC’s shipyard, he stated that despite our quiet efforts over the past few years, it does not imply that the process was without challenges.”
Following a period of seven years dedicated to design and construction, the prototype will initiate testing in the harbor prior to its venture into the ocean.
The submarine bears the name Hai Kun, which is derived from the Chinese mythological fish known as kun, renowned for its extraordinary size.
It will only be handed over to the military after passing both its harbor and ocean-faring tests. Taiwan plans to build another submarine if successful, with both to be deployed by 2027, according to the semi-official Central News Agency.
Taiwan initiated the costly and lengthy endeavor of constructing its own submarines due to Beijing’s interference, which hindered its ability to acquire these vessels from foreign sources by employing economic and diplomatic coercion.
China has increased its military activities targeting the island in recent times, dispatching fighter jets and naval vessels to conduct patrols and exercises in the waters and airspace close to Taiwan.
The Defense Ministry of China stated on Thursday that Taiwan’s construction of the submarine is leading it towards its own downfall.
“I am unable to reword this text.”
At a monthly news conference, Wu stated that the recent live-fire exercises conducted by the Chinese military near Taiwan were regular drills included in their yearly schedule. These exercises aimed to assess the efficiency of troops and their ability to operate jointly using various weapons and across different branches.
Present at the event were Sandra Oudkirk, the heads of the unofficial U.S. embassy, as well as representatives from the Japanese and South Korean trade delegations stationed in Taiwan.
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The report was filed by Wu, who is based in Taipei, Taiwan.
