SINGAPORE: “Game changer” is a label often used - and abused - in international politics. Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Submarine programme had been called a game changer, when announced in 2016, for deterrence against the mainland Chinese threat.the first of eight domestically built submarines
The Republic of China Navy operates just a pair of submarines on active duty, Chien Lung-class boats based on the 1980s Netherlands’ Swordfish The Hai Kun is the crown jewel in Taiwan’s relentless quest for defence self-reliance and a signal to three distinct audiences. Land-based missiles may deny adversaries safe sanctuary and freedom of manoeuvre but do not alone enable Taiwan to use those sea routes. Without overland export routes, Taiwan could still beIt’s telling that despite its successes, Kyiv had never foresworn the importance of having a navy with mobile assets, including its desire to acquire submarines to more credibly threaten Moscow’s Black Sea dominance.
Offensive minelaying allows Taiwan to directly threaten the PLA Navy on China’s doorstep, with the prospect of bottling up and delaying an invasion fleet at its naval bases or civilian ports along the Fujian coast. The first concern would be the government’s commitment following the: Will a post-Tsai Ing-wen administration maintain current plans for eight submarines? Slash the number and the fleet will probably be strained to meet peacetime deterrent and wartime needs.