Taipei launches first ever Submarine project to take on the Chinese Navy 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 2026T Tags Taipei taipei travels taiwan destinations taiwan tourism taiwan travel taiwan trip travel to taiwan travel taiwan taiwan travel guide visit Taiwan tai wan china taiwan taiwan china taipei attractions taiwan destinations taipei travel travel in taiwan taipei tourism taiwan tour guide taipei tour taiwan guide taipei travel guide tourism taiwan taiwan travel information go taiwan taiwan country taipei tourist attractions trip to taiwan taiwan visit taiwan information taipei trip what to see in taiwan taiwan and china china and taiwan tai wan china business china trade taiwan tourism china travel guide taiwan in chinese china tourism taiwan chinese china taiwan relations china travel china travel service taiwan china relations chinese taiwan taiwan news in chinese republic of china taiwan republic of taiwan china travel visa china business news chinese taiwan govt air china hong kong china shanghai taipei china china travel agency taiwan to china china economy taiwan china conflict china news china taiwan war 台北发射首艘潜艇项目，承担中国海军 台北發射首艘潛艇項目，承擔中國海軍 台灣啟動潛艇對抗中國海軍的項目 台湾启动潜艇对抗中国海军的项目

• published: 22 Mar 2017
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