Taiwan tests home-built submarine

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan has conducted the first water test of its home-built “Narwhal” submarine.

The test was conducted Tuesday, entering the final stage of Harbor Acceptance Testing, according to the submarine builder CSBC Corp.

Taipei had launched the submarine project last September.

The builder said the submarine's float test, which took over seven hours, was conducted in the Kaohsiung Port area.

The self-ruled island nation is expected to have three combat-ready submarines ready by 2025 and four by 2027. They include two existing Chien Lung-class (Sword Dragon) submarines bought from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

During the 1970s, the island nation bought two World War II-era submarines from the US which are now being used for training purposes.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 15 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval vessels were detected operating around the island nation.

China considers Taiwan its “breakaway province” while Taipei has maintained its independence since 1949.