A Taiwanese defense expert on Thursday said that the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” submarine would boost the nation’s defense capabilities and could deter Chinese aircraft carriers and amphibious landing groups in eastern Taiwan, when it starts active service at the end of next year.
Institute of National Defense and Security Research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) said the submarine would play a vital role in enhancing Taiwan’s combat readiness in waters to the east of the nation.
Su’s comments were made following the unveiling of Taiwan’s first indigenous defense submarine, named Narwhal, in Kaohsiung earlier on Thursday.
Photo: Chiang Ying-ying, AP
Submarines have the ability to effectively control critical maritime passages such as the Bashi Channel, located between southern Taiwan and the Philippines, and the Miyako Strait in the East China Sea, Su said.
In the event of a blockade by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the submarine can serve as vital counter-blockade asset, Su said, adding that domestically-produced submarines not only contribute to military strength, but also bolster economic development.
Meanwhile, Chieh Chung (揭仲), an associate research fellow at the National Policy Foundation in Taipei, said that during wartime, a sufficient number of submarines could be stationed in strategically chosen underwater ambush points around Taiwan, and they can be used to launch attacks against passing PLA fleets or high-value targets such as amphibious assault ships.
However, if the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were to occupy these ambush areas, which are mostly near eastern Taiwan, with a few near Keelung in northern Taiwan and Kaohsiung in the south; it would enable Chinese forces to blockade Taiwan, restricting the movement of Taiwanese aircraft, he said.
It is important to increase the nation’s submarine fleet, Chieh said.
Lin Yin-yu (林穎佑), an assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, said that based on previous PLAN military exercises, Chinese aircraft carriers have been more active in the western Pacific, apparently practicing establishing a naval blockade around Taiwan.
Lin said that if Taiwan’s military can develop sufficient underwater combat capabilities, it would be able to delay Chinese forces, thereby provide some additional response time.
The completion of the Narwhal means that the navy is on track to have a total of three combat-ready submarines by 2025 and four by 2027, including two existing Chien Lung-class subs bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s.
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