Named after a mythical massive fish, the Haikun is Taiwan's first domestically made submarine.

Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically-made submarine as it bolsters its defences against a possible Chinese attack.

President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony in the port city of Kaohsiung on Thursday.

US officials have warned that China could be militarily capable of mounting an invasion within the next few years.

Taiwan is a self-governing island which China regards as a renegade province and has vowed to reclaim one day.

  • Bernie EcclestonedEnglish
    -14•1 year ago

    It would also buy time until US and Japan forces arrive to aid Taiwan’s defence, he added.

    Doubt. You think Japan and the US are going to put actual troops on Taiwan?

            • @JohnDClay@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              2•1 year ago

              What does that have to do with whether the US would help? Their interests are in the sea rights in that area, not just with Tiwan as a trading partner.

              I think if an invasion was coming, us troops would be stationed in Taiwan as a deterrent, so that if they were killed there would be a lot of political will to fight back. And once an invasion starts, the US would still want to keep that part of the world in it’s sphere of influence.

              • Bernie EcclestonedEnglish
                0•1 year ago

                No chance any president is putting troops on Taiwan, the USA has a one China policy, Taiwan is not officially recognised as a sovereign state.

                China’s military is untested. Russia has shown how badly military campaigns can go.

                Zero appetite for a hot conflict on all sides.