Taiwan’s ambitions to bolster its naval defense face significant setbacks following the announcement that CSBC Corp, the country’s state-owned shipbuilder, has missed the deadline for completing Taiwan’s first domestically-made submarine. This development was confirmed on Monday by Defense Minister Wellington Koo during a parliamentary session.
The submarine is a key component of a broader military initiative started in 2016 that aims to construct a fleet of eight vessels as part of Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its defense capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has declared intentions to reunify with the island, raising concerns about its security.
Originally, the submarine was expected to undergo sea trials, which commenced in June, and deliver by the end of November after completing testing by September 30. However, Koo reported that the sea trials are still in progress and further testing will extend beyond the intended completion date.
Koo emphasized that safety assessments take precedence over meeting specific deadlines. “I want to emphasize again that everything we do is based on safety assessments, and there’s no rush to meet any specific month,” he noted to lawmakers, underscoring the commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations.
A spokesperson for CSBC Corporation confirmed the delays and acknowledged that various obstacles had impeded the project. Koo admitted earlier this month that the initial timeline for construction was overly ambitious. “In practice, we face many difficulties, especially given our own circumstances, including equipment issues and delays in scheduling the manufacturers’ technical personnel,” he explained.
The submarine, which measures approximately 80 meters (262 feet) long and has a displacement of 2,500 to 3,000 tons (roughly 5 to 6 million pounds), is equipped with advanced combat systems and torpedoes supplied by Lockheed Martin, a major U.S. defense contractor.
The missed deadlines have drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers, particularly from the main opposition Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People’s Party, which have collectively frozen part of the submarine program’s budget earlier this year. They insist on waiting for the results of the ongoing sea trials before releasing further funds.
Currently, the Taiwanese navy operates only two functional Swordfish-class submarines acquired from the Netherlands in the 1980s. This fleet stands in stark contrast to China’s rapidly expanding naval capabilities, which now include nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, raising the stakes for Taiwan as it strives to modernize its military presence in the region.
