Taiwan planning to build its own diesel submarines: report

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Defense News has reported that Taiwan is expected to announce a plan in August to build its own diesel submarines.

The publication cited an unnamed former Taiwan military official as saying that the island nation seems to have given up on a U.S. offer of eight diesel submarines.

Instead, it will develop its own submarine, although U.S. technical support may still be needed, the ex-official was cited as saying.

The U.S. publication cited unnamed sources as saying that the Taiwan government is expected to make an announcement in August concerning the project.

Sources say the move is due to U.S. reluctance to build diesel submarines and the need to create jobs in Taiwan's economically depressed shipbuilding industry.

A former Pentagon official commented that to build a submarine may be easy, but the real question is how sophisticated the vessel can be without U.S. assistance, according to the Defense News.

Jason Yuan, Taipei's representative in Washington, pointed out that the U.S. government has not shut the door on selling diesel submarines to Taiwan, despite showing reluctance, the Central News Agency reported. The Taiwan government must carefully study the pros and cons of building its own submarines, he said.

Currently four submarines are in active service in Taiwan: two Dutch-built submarines from the 1980s, and two U.S. Guppy-class submarines built during World War II.

The Guppies are the oldest operational submarines in the world, the Defense News said.

The United States offered Taiwan a cost-effective solution in 2003 when Italy offered to sell eight decommissioned Sauro-class diesel submarines for only US$2 billion.

Delivery would have begun in 2006 after the United States refurbished the vessels. However, Taiwan rejected the offer and continued to insist on new submarines, the Defense News said.