Taiwan presented its first domestically built submarine on Thursday in the context of growing tensions with China, reports the DPA and Reutersquoted by Agerpres.
The first submarine developed by TaiwanPhoto: ChiangYing-ying / Associated Press / Profimedia Images
President Tsai Ing-wen declared on this occasion that domestically built submarines constitute an important fighting force for the defense of Taiwan’s borders.
“(The day of) Today will go down in history… we did it,” Tsai said at the launch ceremony in Kaohsiung (south), recalling that previously Taiwan’s construction of its own submarines was considered a mission impossible.
“Construction of submarines domestically is not only an objective, but also a concrete defense practice of our country,” she added.
The new submarine, called “Hai Kun” or “Narwhal” in Mandarin, is to undergo a test in the port on Sunday, later being tested in sea waters. It is expected to be delivered to the naval forces before the end of next year.
Meet with Taiwan’s inaugural indigenously-developed submarine: the Haikun (海鯤)
The Haikun is a diesel-electric submarine armed with Mk-48 torpedoes and incorporates a combat system provided by Lockheed Martin.
Haikun’s trials are slated to commence on September 28, with… pic.twitter.com/i9lhvwGQEH
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 28, 2023
The submarine shows Taiwan’s “determination” to defend itself in the face of threats
Taiwan’s Naval Forces Command said on Thursday that the domestic production of submarines is an important policy for the independence of Taiwan’s national defense.
By cooperating with shipbuilder CSBC Corporation, the Navy is demonstrating its resilience and determination to defend itself to the world, says the Navy in Taipei.
Taiwan faces a growing military threat from China, which considers Taiwan one of its provinces, which it has yet to reunite with the rest of the territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
In June, Taiwan activated its defense systems after detecting no fewer than 37 Chinese military aircraft entering the island’s air defense zone, incursions that have increased in frequency and size in recent years.
In December 2016, Taiwan launched a program to develop eight submarines, and in May 2019, Tsai hosted an inauguration ceremony for the first shipyard to build its own submarines.
