![]() The United States - which like other countries does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state but is opposed to unilateral changes in the status quo - has been pushing the self-ruled island to strengthen its asymmetric warfare abilities in the face of much larger and stronger PLA forces. ![]() It has intensified its military operation around Taiwan since then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August in a trip seen by Beijing as a serious violation of its sovereignty and a breach of Washington's one-China policy. The Taiwanese navy already has two submarines that were built in the Netherlands in 1986.īeijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control, has steadily ramped up its military pressure since Tsai refused to accept the one-China principle after her election in 2016. "We will continue to complete equipment installation, testing, and sea trial of the prototype so that by 2025 … we will have three submarines with full combat capabilities," she said. President Tsai Ing-wen, centre, poses with a model of a submarine. Tsai said it was an important development towards developing the island's asymmetric warfare capacity. We did it," she said, adding it was not only a new milestone for the island but also an "important realisation of our concrete commitment to defending" Taiwan. "In the past, a domestically developed submarine was considered an impossible task, but today, a submarine designed and built on our own is right before us. Tsai, who ordered the building of the ship shortly after she became the island's leader in 2016, said the island was able to produce its first submarine despite all odds after seven long years. "History will forever remember this day," said Tsai as she stood in front of the prototype sealed under the cover of a huge Taiwanese flag. The prototype vessel - set to be completed by the end of next year - was officially named Hai Kun, or Narwhal, by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a ceremony in the southern city of Kaohsiung on Thursday. However, local defence analysts warned that it will take time for it to become combat ready and building up the Taiwanese navy's submarine fleet in the face of a growing threat from the People's Liberation Army will take time. TAIPEI - Taiwan has unveiled its first home-built submarine, which is expected to play a leading role in asymmetric warfare in the event of conflict with mainland China. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during the submarine’s naming ceremony.
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