Seven shipbuilding companies have presented plans to construct eight diesel submarines for Taiwan, despite protests from China, a leading Chinese-language daily reported yesterday.
The companies met during a closed-door meeting on Friday in Washington hosted by the US Navy's Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA), the report said, without quoting sources.
NAVSEA handles engineering and building for the US fleet as well as acquisition projects.
The report quoted anonymous US military officials as saying the seven US contractors, including Northrop Grumman Corp and General Dynamics, had submitted letters of intent to bid for the tender, which is expected to open in January.
China Shipbuilding Corp (中船) also reportedly attended the meeting along with Lockheed Martin, a licensed US exporter of military electronic and combat systems.
The project is estimated to be worth NT$138 billion (US$4 billion), the report said.
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