TAIPEI — Taiwan on Tuesday confirmed it plans to study the feasibility of building a submarine fleet on its own in a move that suggests it is running out of patience over a long-stalled U.S. offer to supply eight of the warships.
The navy hopes to come up with an in-depth report in four years on items ranging from design and acquisition of equipment, to construction capabilities and product tests and evaluation, according to a defense ministry statement. The report will cost around Tw $140 million ($4.7 million) to be financed by a defense ministry-controlled fund, it said.
“The move is a crucial sign showing that the navy has dropped the idea of purchasing submarines from the United States and decided to build them at home,” a naval source was quoted by the Liberty Times as saying.
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