China-Taiwan
Experts believe new submarines could help Taiwan build strong deterrence against China
Taipei: Amid heightened tension between China and Taiwan in the backdrop of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governed island, defence experts have said a new fleet of modern submarines could help Taipei build strong deterrence against Beijing.
Analysts said in an RTI repoPelosi'srt published on Thursday that new subs would help Taiwan boost deterrence against China, reports ANI.
Michael Thim, a researcher focusing on Taiwan’s defence at the Prague-based think tank Association for International Affairs, said that Taiwan’s indigenous defence submarine programme is necessary.
Though submarines cannot prevent a Chinese invasion on their own, they constitute a strong deterrent force, Thim said, reported Taiwan News as quoted by ANI.
Subs patrolling in the shallow Taiwan Strait can use surrounding white noise as cover, he said, thus posing a threat to Chinese military transport ships at risk, he said.
Thim also said that in terms of submarine capabilities, Taiwan has been able to hire foreign experts over the years to help with its development plans.
The US has so far been the primary partner in providing key submarine technologies, he said, reported Taiwan News.
More countries should be included in the future, such as Japan, which can build excellent submarines, the scholar said.
He added that the Hai Chien-class subs acquired by Taiwan in the 1980s have undergone substantial upgrades and can inflict damage on enemy ships, but have little deterrence effect.
China’s maritime safety authority in Guangdong province said Friday that a fresh military exercise will be held on August 23 between Macao and Hong Kong, off the southern coast.
"Maritime traffic in the designated areas will be prohibited during the exercise," the administration said.
The war games will be held at the mouth of the Zhu Jiang river and near Wailingding Island from 7 am (GMT 23:00 on August 22) to 2 p.m. and from 6 pm to 11 pm, reports UNI.
China launched a series of war games near Taiwan, an island it claims as its territory after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei on August 2. Another group of Democrat lawmakers flew to the island days later.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Thursday that Chinese military exercises near Taiwan were "necessary and legitimate" both as a response to US provocations and as a step to uphold China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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