Latest news with #Kaohsiung
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Taiwan begins sea trials of first locally built submarine amid tensions with China
TAIPEI, June 18 — Taiwan has started sea trials of its first domestically built submarine, as it upgrades its military capabilities to defend against a potential Chinese attack. The vessel is part of a submarine programme launched in 2016 that aims to deliver a fleet of eight vessels. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex the self-ruled island, which insists it is a sovereign nation and not subordinate to Beijing. Shipbuilder CSBC Corp said Tuesday that sea trials of the submarine began in the southern port of Kaohsiung on Saturday, nearly two years after the vessel was unveiled. The submarine successfully wrapped up the trial—the first of three stages—on Tuesday with a 'floating navigation test', the company said in a statement. 'CSBC Corporation will continue, based on the test results, to adjust and improve each system, and proceed to the next phase of submerged navigation tests,' the company said. The submarine measures 80 metres (262 feet) in length, has a displacement weight of about 2,500 to 3,000 tons, and boasts combat systems and torpedoes sourced from the US defence company Lockheed Martin. The aim is to finish sea trials by September 30 and deliver the submarine by the end of November, the Navy said last month. But the submarine programme has faced obstacles. The main opposition Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People's Party, which together control the parliament, froze part of the programme's budget earlier this year. The parties said they wanted to see the results of the submarine's sea trials before releasing the funds. Taiwan, which would be massively outgunned by China in a war, is trying to boost its ability to wage 'asymmetric warfare' involving more agile equipment like submarines and drones. But there are concerns that opposition efforts to cut military spending could hurt the island's ability to strengthen its firepower. Taiwan's navy currently has two working submarines, Swordfish-class vessels bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s. Over the same period, China has built itself one of the world's largest navies, with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. — AFP
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Taiwan starts sea tests of first domestically built submarine
TAIPEI: Taiwan has started sea trials of its first domestically built submarine, as it upgrades its military capabilities to defend against a potential Chinese attack. The vessel is part of a submarine programme launched in 2016 that aims to deliver a fleet of eight vessels. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex the self-ruled island, which insists it is a sovereign nation and not subordinate to Beijing. Shipbuilder CSBC Corp said on Tuesday (Jun 17) that sea trials of the submarine began in the southern port of Kaohsiung on Saturday, nearly two years after the vessel was unveiled. The submarine successfully wrapped up the trial – the first of three stages – on Tuesday with a "floating navigation test", the company said in a statement. "CSBC Corporation will continue, based on the test results, to adjust and improve each system, and proceed to the next phase of submerged navigation tests," the company said. The submarine measures 80m in length, has a displacement weight of about 2,500 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes, and boasts combat systems and torpedoes sourced from the US defence company Lockheed Martin. The aim is to finish sea trials by Sep 30 and deliver the submarine by the end of November, the Navy said last month. But the submarine programme has faced obstacles. The main opposition Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People's Party, which together control the parliament, froze part of the programme's budget earlier this year. The parties said they wanted to see the results of the submarine's sea trials before releasing the funds. Taiwan, which would be massively outgunned by China in a war, is trying to boost its ability to wage "asymmetric warfare" involving more agile equipment like submarines and drones. But there are concerns that opposition efforts to cut military spending could hurt the island's ability to strengthen its firepower. Taiwan's navy currently has two working submarines, Swordfish-class vessels bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Taiwan starts sea tests of first domestically built submarine
Taiwan has started sea trials of its first domestically built submarine, as it upgrades its military capabilities to defend against a potential Chinese attack. The vessel is part of a submarine program launched in 2016 that aims to deliver a fleet of eight vessels. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex the self-ruled island, which insists it is a sovereign nation and not subordinate to Beijing. Shipbuilder CSBC Corp said Tuesday that sea trials of the submarine began in the southern port of Kaohsiung on Saturday, nearly two years after the vessel was unveiled. The submarine successfully wrapped up the trial — the first of three stages — on Tuesday with a 'floating navigation test,' the company said in a statement. 'CSBC Corporation will continue, based on the test results, to adjust and improve each system, and proceed to the next phase of submerged navigation tests,' the company said. The submarine measures 80 metres (262 feet) in length, has a displacement weight of about 2,500 to 3,000 tons, and boasts combat systems and torpedoes sourced from the US defense company Lockheed Martin. The aim is to finish sea trials by September 30 and deliver the submarine by the end of November, the Navy said last month. But the submarine program has faced obstacles. The main opposition Kuomintang party and the Taiwan People's Party, which together control the parliament, froze part of the program's budget earlier this year. The parties said they wanted to see the results of the submarine's sea trials before releasing the funds. Taiwan, which would be massively outgunned by China in a war, is trying to boost its ability to wage 'asymmetric warfare' involving more agile equipment like submarines and drones. But there are concerns that opposition efforts to cut military spending could hurt the island's ability to strengthen its firepower. Taiwan's navy currently has two working submarines, Swordfish-class vessels bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s. Over the same period, China has built itself one of the world's largest navies, with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Taiwan completes first sea trial for domestically made submarine in defense milestone
Taiwan completed the maiden sea trial for its first domestically developed submarine on Tuesday, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening deterrence against the Chinese navy and protecting vital sea lanes in the event of war. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty. The submarine program has drawn on expertise and technology from several countries, including the United States and Britain, a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's territorial claims. Taiwan's CSBC, which is leading construction of what is eventually planned to be eight submarines, said in a statement that the first ship, named the Narwhal, had completed its first test at sea, proving systems including propulsion, ventilation and radar. "CSBC will continue to make adjustments and improvements to the systems based on the test results," it said in a statement, showing pictures of the submarine sailing above water off the southern Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung. Underwater tests will follow, with the depth gradually increased, the company added. The Narwhal had been due to be delivered to the navy last year, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s, but the program has been hit with delays. Taiwan has said it hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027 and possibly equip later models with missiles. The first submarine, with a price tag of $49.36 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.67 billion), will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin and carry U.S.-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes. Taiwan's armed forces are dwarfed by those of China, which has two operational aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines and is developing stealth fighter jets. Taiwan is modernizing its military to be able to fight "asymmetric warfare," using mobile and agile systems like submarines, drones and truck-mounted missiles to fend off its much-larger adversary China.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwan's coast guard hold military drill to better face China's ‘grey zone' threat
Taiwan's coast guard is often first to respond to Chinese activities in the 'grey zone'. (Taiwan Coast Guard/AFP pic) KAOHSIUNG : Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military today to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing 'grey zone' threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by president Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by 'international terrorists'. The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. 'Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan,' Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top US diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. 'The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom,' Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
