Taipei - Lawmakers across party lines panned the Ministry of National Defense Thursday for what they called its passive attitude toward Taiwan's self-development of submarines and urged it to act more aggressively in efforts to obtain the craft.
Several legislators of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) accused the ministry of not following up strongly enough on a statement by local shipbuilder CSBC Corp. that it has the ability to manufacture submarines.
They also accused the ministry of being lackadaisical in its efforts to acquire submarines through foreign procurement.
Speaking at a legislative interpellation session, Deputy Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang said that the ministry supports the idea of Taiwan developing its own submarines.
However, he pointed out that factors such as design blueprints, key construction technologies and problems with kitting the vessels out with weaponry and other military equipment have to be addressed before the project can be launched.
CSBC Chairman Paul Tang, who also attended the session, said he is "confident that the company is capable of building the submarine platform," but that it does not have the ability to obtain the onboard weaponry systems or other needed military equipment.
The lawmakers also brought up the issue that no significant progress has been made since the United States government agreed in 2001 to help Taiwan acquire eight diesel-electric submarines.
Asked by DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim whether the ministry is taking any steps toward acquiring submarines from a foreign country or building the subs by itself, Chao said Washington is still assessing the situation.
Legislator Lin Yu-fang of the KMT also accused the ministry of failing to act in response to the idea of CSBC building the submarines.
"We should at least show our resolve to build subs if we wantfurther help from the U.S.," Lin said.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu said that if CSBC can overcome the weaknesses it has pointed out, the ministry will be willing to cooperate on a submarine self-build project.
Kao added that Taiwan still wants to acquire eight more submarines, either from foreign sellers or through building the ships itself.
Currently, Taiwan's Navy has four diesel-electric submarines, according to the ministry.
I think for Taiwan, they should talk to Russia and look at buying a Kilo class SSK. Russia is strapped for cash and is willing to sell Kilo class SSK to Taiwan, if they have the cash.
ReplyDeleteRussia tend to sell weapon to anyone ..
ReplyDelete