Retired admiral Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光), who supervised the critical initial stages of the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) program, has resigned as an adviser to the National Security Council for family reasons, the Presidential Office said yesterday.
Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said President William Lai (賴清德) praised Huang for his decades of service to the nation’s defense and for leading the challenging effort to build its first domestically produced submarine.
Huang joined the National Security Council in 2021, two years after he was appointed convener of the IDS program in 2019. He also briefly served as chief of the general staff from January 2020 to January 2021.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
As head of the IDS program, Huang oversaw the early stages, including negotiating foreign procurement, securing restricted components and finalizing the submarine’s design.
His leadership culminated in the launch of the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” Taiwan’s first indigenous submarine, in September 2023.
Lai described the launch as a milestone in strengthening the nation’s defense self-reliance and said that subsequent work has since advanced smoothly.
Given his central role in developing the submarine program, Huang’s resignation sparked speculation about any potential impact on the Hai Kun’s ongoing sea trials and the building of further submarines.
Naval officials said Huang had already stepped down as convener in April last year, staying on only as a consultant while Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua (唐華) assumed responsibility for the project’s management.
A source familiar with the program said Huang remained in the advisory role at Lai’s request for more than a year, but eventually felt his contributions were limited as the project had entered a more stable phase.
The IDS program is a collective effort undertaken by the Navy and shipbuilder CSBC Corp, Taiwan; National Defense and Security Research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) said.
Huang’s greatest contribution was providing direction and steering the program through its most difficult initial stage, he added.
CSBC yesterday did not elaborate on whether Huang’s resignation is to affect the Hai Kun’s sea trials or delivery schedule.
It said it had never hired Huang for any position, including director or consultant, adding that it had no comment on whether he would be hired to help matters concerning the Hai Kun.
The submarine reportedly is to conduct its fourth sea acceptance tests (SAT) by the end of this month.
The submarine, which has carried out its third SAT, has to pass surface navigation trials, submerged tests and other tests before delivery.
CSBC Corp has not announced the dates for the submarine’s sea trials.
CSBC chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said earlier this month that the company would do everything within its power to ensure that the submarine meets the delivery deadline of November.
The company must proceed step by step to ensure the submarine’s functionality meets standards before conducting submerged and other tests, said Chen, an associate professor of the Department of Systems and Naval Mechatronic Engineering at National Cheng Kung University.
The company is to first perform shallow-water tests, followed by deep-sea tests, and is to also conduct torpedo launch trials, he said.
Despite variables such as sea conditions, the company would try its best to avoid penalties by meeting the contract delivery deadline, he added.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS