President Tsai Ing-wen witnessed the signing of an agreement to develop Taiwan’s first indigenous submarines at a March 21 ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung marking the departure of the rapid combat support vessel Panshi on overseas training exercises and courtesy calls as part of the navy’s Dunmu Fleet.
 
The pact was concluded by the Ministry of National Defense, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and local shipbuilder CSBC Corporation, Taiwan. Under the agreement, the first domestically built submarine is expected to be completed within eight years and commissioned into service within 10 years. Design and construction will be led by CSBC, with the NCSIST providing key technological support.
 
Tsai said at the ceremony that the undertaking reaffirms her administration’s commitment to ensuring national security, fast-tracking industrial upgrading and promoting social unity.
 
The development of indigenous submarines is the most challenging aspect of achieving self-reliance in national defense, the president said, and a crucial step in enhancing the country’s underwater military capabilities as part of the MND’s new strategy of resolute defense and multiple deterrence.
 
According to Tsai, the submarine program signals further progress in strengthening the domestic defense industry following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the MND, NCSIST and Taichung City-based Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. in February to create indigenous supersonic jet trainers.
 
The president said she expects these initiatives to provide more advanced weaponry for the armed forces while spurring the upgrading of related sectors.
 
National defense is a key plank in the government’s five-plus-two innovative industries initiative, which also includes biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, smart machinery and the Internet of Things, as well as the promotion of two core concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development.
 
The ROC Navy currently operates four diesel-electric submarines. The Haihu and Hailung were purchased from the Netherlands and commissioned in the late 1980s, while the Haipao and Haishih are former U.S. Navy boats acquired in the early 1970s, according to the MND. (SFC-E)
 
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