The state-run China Shipbuilding Corp (CSBC) hopes to win contracts to build and assemble parts of the eight submarines that the US has promised to sell to Taiwan, a government legislator said yesterday.
Liang Mu-yang (
Liang noted that the legislature has resolved to support a Cabinet decision on enabling CSBC to build parts of the eight submarines as a prerequisite for Taiwan placing the order with the US for the procurement.
He added that Washington has also invited CSBC personnel to the US to join in the planning work for the sale.
Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (
Chen declined to comment on reports that the US has awarded core contracts for the building of the submarines to Spain. US President George W. Bush is seeking for ways to thank Madrid for lending support for the US invasion of Iraq in mid-March.
The US agreed to sell eight diesel-powered submarines to Taiwan in a robust arms sales package unveiled in April 2001, although there is debate as to whether diesel power should be used because the US has not made diesel submarines in about 50 years and there are other technologies available.
US executive Randy Belote of Northrop Grumman, a US partner of German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) said on Friday that HDW builds a superior fuel-cell power supply. The hydrogen-technology fuel cells allow submarines to stay under water for longer periods of time than diesel-powered submarines -- and are quieter.
Many Taiwan legislators have been pushing the government to lobby the US authorities to commission the CSBC to build parts of the submarines.
The CSBC has successfully developed high compression-resistant hulls for submarines since beginning a research and development program 16 months ago.
The success in building pressure-resistant hull sections for the main propulsion motor -- one of the major parts of a submarine -- has allowed CSBC to move forward in its bid to secure orders to build conventional submarines for the navy.
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