A marketing license from the US government will allow the procurement of overseas supplies
Taiwan News
Date: 2018/09/01
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
One of Taiwan’s submarines built in the Netherlands in the 1980s. (By Central News Agency)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The construction of Taiwan’s first-ever domestic submarine should be completed by 2025 following the spending of NT$49.3 billion (US$1.6 billion) beginning next year, reports said Saturday.
Due to pressure from China, Taiwan has been unable to buy submarines overseas since procuring two from the Netherlands 30 years ago. Under President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), plans to start building submarines in Taiwan have been gaining impetus.
As Taiwan has acquired a “marketing license” from the United States Department of State, it means it will have access to parts and technology from U.S. suppliers, including so-called “red area” components, the Central News Agency reported.
Supplies for the construction of submarines are labeled red, yellow or green, with the red area including technology such as the main diesel engine, torpedoes and missile systems which Taiwan is unable to develop on its own. [FULL STORY]