Pindi Boy
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Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen launched the island's first ever home-grown submarine project Tuesday in the face of what the government says are growing military threats from China.
The move comes after China sent its only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait in January, in one of a number of military drills held as relations deteriorate.
Taiwan last week warned of an increased invasion risk from China and has pledged to boost its military in response.
Tsai called the launch of the submarine plan a "historic moment" at a naval base in southern city of Kaohsiung.
She was presiding over a formal signing ceremony to initiate the project between the navy, Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBS Corporation and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which develops combat system integration.
Delivery of the submarine is expected to take eight years and is part of the island's "indigenous defence policy", said Tsai.
"I want to tell you all that the Taiwanese always face challenges bravely and overcome them," she said.
Taiwan's navy currently operates a fleet of four submarines, bought from abroad, but only two of them can be deployed in the event of war.
The other two were built by the United States in the 1940s and are only used in training as they are too old for combat.
As part of her visit on Tuesday, Tsai boarded Taiwan's Zwaardis-class submarine the Hai Hu, which was purchased from the Netherlands.
Tsai watched the simulated firing of a torpedo while on board.
Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into its fold, by force if necessary, even though the island has been self-governing since the two sides split after a civil war in 1949.
Ties have worsened since Beijing-sceptic Tsai took power last year, ending an eight-year rapprochement.
Tensions heightened further after a protocol-busting call between Tsai and Donald Trump, following his US election victory.
The US is Taiwan's most powerful ally and main arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.
But Taiwan has turned to the domestic submarine project after years spent waiting for US models.
A long-stalled offer approved by then US president George W Bush in 2001 to supply eight conventional submarines has never come to fruition.
Defence minister Feng Shih-kuan has said the Liaoning's sail near Taiwan highlighted the need for the island to press ahead with building its own subs.
Taiwan also announced last month its bid to create a new generation of locally built jet trainers by 2026.
http://www.defencenews.in/article/T...ne-project-to-take-on-the-Chinese-Navy-251106
The move comes after China sent its only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait in January, in one of a number of military drills held as relations deteriorate.
Taiwan last week warned of an increased invasion risk from China and has pledged to boost its military in response.
Tsai called the launch of the submarine plan a "historic moment" at a naval base in southern city of Kaohsiung.
She was presiding over a formal signing ceremony to initiate the project between the navy, Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBS Corporation and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which develops combat system integration.
Delivery of the submarine is expected to take eight years and is part of the island's "indigenous defence policy", said Tsai.
"I want to tell you all that the Taiwanese always face challenges bravely and overcome them," she said.
Taiwan's navy currently operates a fleet of four submarines, bought from abroad, but only two of them can be deployed in the event of war.
The other two were built by the United States in the 1940s and are only used in training as they are too old for combat.
As part of her visit on Tuesday, Tsai boarded Taiwan's Zwaardis-class submarine the Hai Hu, which was purchased from the Netherlands.
Tsai watched the simulated firing of a torpedo while on board.
Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into its fold, by force if necessary, even though the island has been self-governing since the two sides split after a civil war in 1949.
Ties have worsened since Beijing-sceptic Tsai took power last year, ending an eight-year rapprochement.
Tensions heightened further after a protocol-busting call between Tsai and Donald Trump, following his US election victory.
The US is Taiwan's most powerful ally and main arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.
But Taiwan has turned to the domestic submarine project after years spent waiting for US models.
A long-stalled offer approved by then US president George W Bush in 2001 to supply eight conventional submarines has never come to fruition.
Defence minister Feng Shih-kuan has said the Liaoning's sail near Taiwan highlighted the need for the island to press ahead with building its own subs.
Taiwan also announced last month its bid to create a new generation of locally built jet trainers by 2026.
http://www.defencenews.in/article/T...ne-project-to-take-on-the-Chinese-Navy-251106
Given that only US contractor are allowed to participate and US has almost no experience in building electric sub. Good luck to this project.
....I think China has largely understood this....and it even has perfect opportunity to demonstrate to Taiwan using HK as example after the 50 year current system ends there. In interview with Joshua Wong, sackur of the BBC used a very poignant fact that struck with me.....at time of handover HK was like 15% of mainland GDP.....and now its like 3%. So will be the case with Taiwan as time goes by. Its why Taiwan always stops short of declaring full independence (past the military scenario)....economically they gain so much from status quo too. My Taiwanese business partner is in China much more frequently than Taiwan itself lol....even though he has reservations towards the mainland govt.
and the delusional Viet actually believes the US will help a Communist government when the programs were effectively terminated in SK and TW under US pressure. 
