Taiwan unveils 'Narwhal,' its first home-built submarine

Taiwan's leader touted the first domestic-built submarine as a major breakthrough in defense and deterrence as she presided over the vessel's launch ceremony on Thursday.

She was presiding over a ceremony during which the submarine was officially named "Narwhal" in English and "Hai Kun" in Mandarin Chinese. Only the bow was shown to guests and journalists at the ceremony, with the torpedo tubes and other parts covered with the national flag.

Submarines are an important part of the Taiwanese navy's "asymmetric warfare," she said, adding that Taiwan must implement "defense self-sufficiency" as well as buying weapons and equipment from overseas.

The unveiling marks a breakthrough for Taiwan in building its own submarine despite difficulties and barriers imposed by China. Communist China, which has never ruled Taiwan but claims it as its territory, has sought to block the sale of military technology and weapons from other countries to Taiwan.

The Narwhal is diesel-electric powered, equipped with MK-48 torpedoes and came with a price tag of $1.54 billion. A submarine fleet could potentially alter the balance of power in the region, where China is investing massively in a military buildup for Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambition over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Adm. Huang Shu-Kuang, convener of the president's National Submarine Task Force, said submarines will stop the Chinese navy from controlling the northeastern waters, also known as the Miyako Strait, and the Bashi Channel. "The aim is to counter China's efforts to encircle Taiwan for an invasion, attack or a blockade."

The plan is to produce seven more submarines, which combined with the new one and current two, will comprise a fleet of 10. Huang, who is also an adviser to the National Security Council, said this will be strong enough to fend off the Chinese navy.

Details about the submarine's size or capability were not disclosed. The ship will undergo harbour acceptance tests and then sea acceptance tests for the coming months after the launch. Huang said it will hopefully be handed to the navy by the end of 2024.

"Even if there are risks and no matter how many challenges there are, Taiwan must take this step and let the policy of independent national defense grow and thrive on our soil," said Tsai, who will step down after finishing her second term next May.

Acquiring the necessary technology and exports for the submarine was a formidable challenge because China has been pressuring countries not to support Taiwan regarding this plan.

China's mouthpiece Global Times openly questioned the project, writing: "If a conflict breaks out, the island's submarines will be easily detected and dealt with by the PLA, and they will pose only limited threats."

The People's Liberation Army has "a multidimensional anti-submarine network all around the island of Taiwan, which includes Y-8 fixed-wing anti-submarine patrol aircraft and Z-9 vessel-borne anti-submarine helicopters in the air, anti-submarine-capable corvettes, frigates and destroyers on the sea surface, as well as submarines," Global Times said.