Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 09 May, 2019
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen (middle)

President Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwan is capable of building its own submarines. Tsai was speaking Thursday at the ground-breaking ceremony of a shipyard in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Tsai said Taiwan now has four submarines in service. Two were transferred to Taiwan from the US in 1970. Both are now 70 years old. Taiwan purchased the other two submarines from the Netherlands. Both of these submarines are now 30 years old.

Tsai said the Netherlands no longer sells Taiwan submarines due to pressure from China, leaving Taiwan with no choice but to build its own submarines. The president said the government is determined to overcome difficulties in submarine development.
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