Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically developed submarine The vessel was officially named “Narwhal” in English and “Hai Kun in Mandarin after a mythical massive fish that can also fly The accomplishment has been hailed as a significant In the past, a domestic-made submarine was considered impossible, but today a submarine designed and built by our countrymen is in front of you,” President Tsai Ing-wen said at the launch ceremony, reported by The Associated Press.milestone as Taipei works to boost its military deterrence in the face of a growing threat from China. Taiwan s President Tsai Ing-wen today presided over the launch ceremony in the port city of Kaohsiung The reduced-size submarine will begin tests this week
She said that history will forever remember this day and that the submarine is an important realization of their concrete commitment in defending the countryShe added that they have achieved the task of building an indigenous submarine which was previously considered impossible. She said that the indigenous submarine project was a top priority of her administration. Narwhal is expected to enter service in 2025, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s. According to reports, the island nation hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and eventually operate a fleet of 10 submarines
Taiwan has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces. The head of the domestic submarine programme Admiral Huang Shu-kuang last week told that the goal was to fend off any attempt from China to encircle Taiwan for an invasion or impose a naval blockade China claims the island democracy as its own territory and has staged almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty Building a submarine is the concrete realization of our resolution to protect our country,” she said. “Submarines are an important piece of equipment for the Taiwan navy to develop asymmetric combat power in terms of strategy and tactics
The submarine project was urged on the U.S. which has pushed Taiwan to advance its domestic military preparedness while also increasing its military support If tests are successful a second submarine will be built and deployed by 2027 according to Taiwanese state mediaTensions between China and Taiwan and have ratcheted up in recent years as relations between Beijing and the U.S. have faltered China has launched a number of close-call aircraft and naval raids just off Taiwan’s coast in recent months, threatening the island nation China s Defense Ministry said Thursday that the submarine’s construction was Taiwan “heading down the path of its own destruction No matter how many weapons the Democratic Progressive Party buys, it will not obstruct the greater trend of reunification with the motherland said ColWu Qian a spokesperson in China’s Ministry of National
Aiwan on Thursday unveiled its first domestically constructed submarine as part of an effort to bolster its naval defense against China The diesel- and electric-fueld submarine was made for $1.5 billion but officials said it still must complete several tests before the Taiwanese navy can take control of it in 2024 Even if there are risks, and no matter how many challenges there are, Taiwan must take this step and allow the self-reliant national defense policy to grow and flourish on our land,” Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said at the unveiling ceremony The submarine, called “Haikun” or “Narwhal,” was made by Taiwan shipbuilder CSBC Corp., and is about 230 feet long and in the class of 2,500-3,000 tons
Taiwan officials said they would like to build another homemade sub by 2027 which would give the island four submarines for its defense Taiwan purchased two Chien Lung-class submarines from the Netherlands in the 1980s Tsai said that expanding its stable of submarines will help the navy increase its “asymmetric combat power” but that the island must also take other steps to keep its defense capabilities up to date While Taiwan officially known as the Republic of China, sees itself as separate from China the communist country views Taiwan as a breakaway territory and has increased expressed interest in reunification by force Creating cross-strait antagonism and confrontation will only undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait Ning said
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