Taiwan's submarine-building plan | 2021 | Publications

Taiwan's submarine-building plan

Abstract

Taiwan has been attempting to expand its small submarine fleet for 20 years, first by trying to purchase submarines from the United States and Europe, which failed, and now by building the submarines itself. The so-called Indigenous Defense Submarine programme seeks to build eight modern diesel-electric submarines over roughly the next decade. While the programme faces several technological and political challenges, if it succeeds, Taiwan will significantly increase its ability to resist a potential invasion by China.