Reuters-Taiwan reveals first domestically made submarine in defence milestone
September 28, 2023 3 min 541 words
这是一个重大的军事里程碑，台湾展示了其首艘国产潜艇，这标志着台湾在强化防御和抵御中国海军的项目中取得了重要进展。虽然这艘潜艇还需两年才能正式服役，但对于中国视台湾为其领土的情况下，台湾将本土潜艇项目作为现代化军队改革的重要一环。总统蔡英文在2023年9月28日的潜艇下水典礼上展示了首批八艘新潜艇中的第一艘，强调了这将增强台湾海军的“非对称战争”能力。 这一国产潜艇项目汇集了来自多个国家的专业知识和技术，这对于外交孤立的台湾来说是一次突破。总统蔡英文表示，这是台湾人民的努力成果，将有助于实现自主国防政策的增长和繁荣。 美国驻台湾事实大使桑德拉·奥德科克出席了典礼，强调了尽管美台没有正式外交关系，但美国与台湾的安全关系仍然非常重要。美国是台湾最大的军火供应商。 台湾外交部长吴钊燮表示，面对中国在岛屿附近进行的日益增多的军事活动，台湾必须加强自己的防御，拥有新潜艇是其中的一项战略。他还希望到2027年至少部署两艘国产潜艇，并有可能在以后的型号上装备导弹。 这艘首艘国产潜艇将搭载洛克希德·马丁公司的作战系统和美国制造的马克48重型鱼雷，其总价值为1.53亿美元。它将在下个月进行海试，预计在2024年底交付海军使用。台湾的国家安全顾问黄书光将这些潜艇描述为“战略威慑力量”，同时也有助于保持台湾沿东海岸港口的“生命线”畅通。 这一报道突显了台湾在面临来自中国的安全挑战时采取的积极行动，同时也凸显了美台关系的重要性。台湾的军事现代化将继续受到关注，特别是在地区安全局势紧张的情况下。
Taiwan unveiled its first domestically developed submarine on Thursday, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening the island's defence and deterrence against the Chinese navy, though it won't enter service for another two years.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.
President Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the plan when she took office in 2016, showed off the first of eight new submarines on Thursday in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
"In the past, a domestically developed submarine was considered an impossible task. But, today, a submarine designed and manufactured by our country's people sits before our eyes," Tsai said, adding that it would play an important role in strengthening the navy's "asymmetric warfare" capabilities.
"Even if there are risks, and no matter how many challenges there are, Taiwan must take this step and allow the self-reliant national defence policy to grow and flourish on our land," Tsai said, standing in front of the ship, named the Narwhal. Taiwan's red flag, featuring a white sun against a blue sky, was wrapped around the submarine's bow.
Tsai said the Narwhal will enter service in 2025, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s.
The indigenous submarine program has drawn on expertise and technology from several countries - a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan.
Cheng Wen-lon, head of Taiwan's CSBC Corp (2208.TW), which led construction of the submarine, said the domestic content of the boat was about 40%. He made no explicit mention of foreign participation in his speech in Kaohsiung.
Underscoring the importance of the United States' security relationship with the island despite a lack of official ties, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk, attended the ceremony. The United States is Taiwan's largest arms supplier.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that faced with an increased threat from China's military "grey zone" pressure tactics close to the island with air and naval activities, Taiwan had to strengthen its defences.
"Having a new submarine is one of those strategies. For anyone who questions Taiwan's submarine strategy, I would be a most forceful advocate for Taiwan to acquire submarines because that's needed to deter war from taking place," Wu said.
Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, the head of the program said this month.
The first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.53 billion), will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and carry U.S.-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes. It will enter sea trials next month before delivery to the navy by the end of 2024.
Admiral Huang Shu-kuang, Tsai's security adviser leading the program, has described the submarines as a "strategic deterrent" that can also help maintain the island's "lifeline" to the Pacific by keeping ports along Taiwan's eastern coast open.