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U.S. to help Taiwan build its own submarines: defense minister

ROC Central News Agency

2014/04/14 22:22:47

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) The United States has said it will help Taiwan to build diesel-electric submarines on its own, Defense Minister Yen Ming confirmed Monday at a hearing of the Legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Yen was quizzed on the subject just days after President Ma Ying-jeou told U.S. opinion makers in a video conference on April 9 that Taiwan needed diesel-electric submarines to strengthen the country's defense capabilities.

'There seems to be a consensus in Taiwan that we should seek foreign technology to help us build (submarines) ourselves,' the president said during the forum, organized by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Asked at the committee hearing whether a policy to build submarines locally has been finalized, Yen said Taiwan has launched a plan to build submarines domestically after trying to buy U.S. submarines without success for 13 years.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed in a statement Monday evening that it has begun preparations to build submarines on its own and that the chances for success would grow if the U.S. could help with project management and technology transfer or even engage in co-production.

The MND said Washington agreed to sell Taiwan submarines in 2001, but no progress has been made on the deal.

Pressured by lawmakers across party lines and the people of the country, the MND has decided to begin the pre-production phase of the process to show its resolve to defend itself, the statement said.

The ministry said it has exchanged views with the U.S., and Washington has expressed its understanding of Taiwan's determination to build its own submarines.

It will also seek support from U.S. policymakers to help Taiwan with its plans through bilateral military exchanges, according to the statement.

Also at the hearing, Yen confirmed that Taiwan has decided to buy only two of four frigates that could be offered by the U.S. because of budget constraints and other factors.

The U.S. House of Representatives on April 7 authorized the sale to Taiwan of four Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates, while officially reaffirming U.S. support for the Taiwan Relations Act days before the 35th anniversary of the landmark act.

(By Lee Ming-chung, Claudia Liu and Evelyn Kao)
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