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

Covert Shores – In parallel to the full-sized Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS), Taiwan is building a much smaller submarine. The Huilong design is a midge submarine intended for testing, It will be armed with torpedoes however.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Taiwan’s HF-2E land-attack cruise missile has reportedly been in service for more than a decade, but has never been seen publicly.

Naval News – The updated design of Taiwan’s New Light Frigate is larger and heavier in order to accommodate more weapon and sensor systems…

RAND – Taiwan remains an important potential flashpoint between China and the United States. Given the geographic distance between the United States and Taiwan and the military challenge of defeating a major attack by China, an accurate assessment of Taiwan’s ability to sustain a defense can be a critical factor for U.S. decisionmakers and planners. In this report, the authors develop a framework for assessing a country’s capacity to resist a large-scale military attack. In that framework, a country’s ability to withstand such an attack depends on four variables: political leadership and social cohesion, military effectiveness, durability, and military intervention by an ally. The authors then use that framework to assess Taiwan’s capacity to resist an attack by China for 90 days — a posited minimum amount of time required for the United States to marshal sufficient forces to carry out a major combat intervention in East Asia. An accurate assessment of Taiwan’s ability to withstand a large-scale attack by China could help U.S. decisionmakers and planners better anticipate and respond in such a situation.

USNI News – Taiwan’s Republic of China Navy is facing two looming threats from China and has been struggling to create a force structure to handle both. First, the ROCN must be able to meet the risk of a potential full-scale invasion by the People’s Republic of China. Second, it has to confront the constant grey zone activities carried out by Chinese forces that are harassing Taiwan’s borders on a daily basis.

Focus Taiwan – A prototype of Taiwan’s first domestically manufactured submarine is set to undergo final tests in September.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Taiwan is set to start construction of two 2,500-ton Light Frigates in June following a contract awarded to a local shipbuilder this month.

Taiwan English News – Taiwanese UAV manufacturer Thunder Tiger (8033.TW) has revealed a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed to enhance Taiwan’s defense capability.

(Thanks to Alain)

Focus Taiwan – A prototype of Taiwan’s first locally built submarine is set to be completed for testing in September, marking a milestone in the nation’s Indigenous Defense Submarine program.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – With tensions in the Taiwan Strait remaining high, we look at how Taiwan’s armed forces would prepare to face a Chinese invasion.

War Zone – Taiwan’s biggest locally built warship is the first of a new class of landing platform docks and part of an ambitious modernization program.

Navy Recognition – According to information published by CNA on July 12, 2022, the Taiwanese Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) is expected to be launched in September.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Taiwan’s naval shipbuilder China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC) started the official sea trials of the country’s first ever indigenous landing platform dock (LPD) named “Yu Shan” (玉山 named after the tallest mountain in Taiwan) on July 6, 2022.

1945 – James Holmes writes that the prospect of seeing a few Yun Feng missiles lobbed into Beijing would neither deter nor defeat a PLA onslaught. Deploying Yun Fengs to help pummel an invasion fleet could do both.

War Zone – Taiwan’s brand new minelaying ships are training to employ the U.S.-designed Mk 6 naval mine, which was designed in 1917.

War Zone – In what could be a very useful capability if an invasion kicked-off, the Taiwanese Coast Guard conducted live-fire drills with anti-ship missiles.

War on the Rocks – A number of recent assessments have called for Taiwan to pursue an “asymmetric” dragon-choking “porcupine strategy” prioritizing “a large number of small things” for its defense. The goal of these measures is to present a robust anti-access/area-denial threat to Beijing’s aspirations in Taiwan, clouding its prospects for military and political success and, ideally, keeping the threat of Chinese invasion hypothetical through this critical decade and beyond.

Naval News – According to local media, Taiwan’s project to build the 4500-ton new generation frigate has been stalled due to budget issues.

USNI Blog – Here is a plan to counter an invasion of Taiwan by Communist China by placing mines at the entrances to the four primary harbors opposite Taiwan. The suitably sized electric surfboard operating autonomously could transport the mine across the 100 miles of the Taiwan Strait. 

Naval News – On January 11, Taiwan’s parliament approved a special budget for weapons procurement including cruise missiles for sea, shore and air and surface to air missiles.

Associated Press – Taiwan on Friday commissioned new naval minelayers to add to its defenses against rival China.

War on the Rocks – Perhaps policymakers should ask why Taiwan has chosen a different defense strategy than what the United States wants. A major reason is America itself: Washington’s policy of “strategic ambiguity” does not provide Taipei with a clear security commitment, even as American intervention is essential to any effective defense. Taiwan’s new strategy is therefore designed to maximize the likelihood of U.S. intervention, even as it reduces the longevity of its forces against Chinese attack. Washington can convince Taipei to adopt asymmetric defense by ameliorating its fears of abandonment, switching from ambiguity to clarity.

War on the Rocks – As the United States talks more and more of defending Taiwan from an attack from the mainland, Taiwan’s military seems to be taking its defense preparations less and less seriously.

Naval News – Taiwan’ shipbuilder China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC) today laid the keel of the first submarine known as Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS). The move aims at renewing the submarine forces of the Republic of China (ROC) Navy while developing a domestic capability to produce submarines.