During parliamentary hearings, information reported by the CNA news agency, Taiwan's Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo, stated that the diving tests of the Hai Kun submarine are focused on ensuring 'safety' and 'quality'. He also noted that in subsequent testing phases, the submarine will conduct dives to maximum depth.
The minister emphasized that no deadline has been set, and there is no supposed 'delivery schedule' for the end of August or beginning of September, as some external circles had reported.
Chen Chen-hung, president of CSBC Corporation, Taiwan's largest shipbuilding enterprise and the main project client, reported last month that the submarine did not encounter significant technical problems during sea trials and will be delivered to the Navy before the end of the current year.
The company has been facing daily fines since November of last year for failing to meet the initially planned delivery date for the submarine, which successfully completed its first torpedo launch test in May. Building a large fleet of submarines is considered critically important for strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities, an autonomous island whose sovereignty is claimed by China, which does not rule out the use of force to establish control.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported in a statement released on Sunday that a series of joint defense exercises are underway and will continue until July 17. These training sessions are part of the annual planning for joint military exercises and follow up on immediate combat readiness drills conducted last month.
According to the ministry, the central purpose of these exercises is to train troops during the defensive operations phase. The focus is on ensuring that, operating under a decentralized command and control system, the forces become familiar with various coordinated action missions, strengthening collaboration and integration between different military branches to achieve the goal of joint territorial defense operations.
The Ministry of Defense specified that the exercises will be conducted using real troops, terrain, time, and equipment, employing various scenarios. This aims to reinforce combat capability and resource integration at all levels of command and units.
Military sources cited by the CNA agency indicated that these trainings serve as preparation for the annual military maneuvers known as Han Kuang, which are scheduled to take place between August 5 and 14.
The exercises occur at a time of intensifying Chinese naval presence in the waters located east of Taiwan. This area is considered crucial as it represents the main route through which Taipei could receive external aid if targeted by a blockade or invasion.
Last month, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense registered over 200 Chinese warships and another 111 Chinese government vessels near the island. These numbers exceed the 40 and 44 official vessels detected in April and May, respectively.
Beijing maintains the view that Taiwan constitutes an 'inalienable part' of Chinese territory and does not rule out the use of force to gain control over the island. This stance is vehemently contested by Taiwanese authorities, who assert that only the 23 million residents of Taiwan have the right to determine their own political destiny.
