Taiwan Media Reveals US's Submarine Sale to Taiwan

Peoples Daily (CCP NEWS) ^ | 6/6/02 | Li Yan

[Enemy Of The State]

Taiwan Media Reveals US's Submarine Sale to Taiwan

According to Taiwan media, with US decision to sell submarines to the island there has arisen a new trend, Taiwan can almost be assured of getting "American-made" German submarines.

Taiwan's China Times cited Taiwan's military sources that the US government has agreed its Northrop Grumman shipbuilding corp's negotiation on the types of submarines, contract, price and other matters with Taiwan, the US side will send personnel to Taiwan for negotiation as soon as possible.

America announced submarine sale to Taiwan last year, "the US submarine sale group" ever flew for Taiwan for meeting last September, both agreed on working out a 3-year plan.

The US invited capable builders to attend the meeting openly and chose submarine types, then will sign agreement with selected builders three years later.

According to Taiwan media's estimate, through six years' construction Taiwan navy is expected to get its first submarine purchase in 2010.

The US openly invited bids last October, American Northrop Grumman, GE and Holland, Spain, Australia and German manufacturers participated in the bidding, rivals finally rest on Northrop Grumman and GE.

Not long ago, the US government sent letters, agreeing Northrop Grumman to negotiate submarine type, contract and price with Taiwan.

Although the two US companies compete for the deal, they have to cooperate with Germany or Holland as German, Holland governments have made clear that submarine technology export will not be allowed, thus delaying the deal for a time.

However, the US continues to manipulate the matter confidentially and is seeking "goods supply". Taiwan describes US's action "as quiet as submarine".

Recently, news reports about submarine construction are rife. The first concerns US's One Equity Partners (OEP)'s acquisition of German HDW's 75% of share. Next is HDW's decision to co-build small submarines with Italy's Fincanieri, then is European Commission's approval of US's purchase of HDW. The last one is about OEP's collaboration with Northrop Grumman, about Northrop Grumman's acquisition of HDW's 20% share.

Taiwan media pointed out that the series of matters seem to be favorable for Taiwan.

Nevertheless, after OEP purchased HDW's share, spokesperson of HDW said that no matter how the share will be transferred, HDW's export license will have to be finally issued by Germany. When HDW decided to collaborate with Italy, the spokesperson expressed that "the move has nothing to do with Taiwan". German chancellor also denied the deal and said that Germany will not sell submarines to Taiwan.

The series of reports are in a way disappointing Taiwan. So Taiwan media say "Taiwan's submarine dream is broken".

However, sources knowing about military sale revealed on June 4 that US's decision to sell submarines to Taiwan is never shaken, US will send personnel to Taiwan in August and let Taiwan make evaluation and decision.

By PD Online Staff Li Yan

[Enemy Of The State]

FYI

[backhoe]

That's very interesting- I have long characterized Israel's purchase of subs a few years ago as a "doomsday device" situation. I wonder if Taiwan is thinking along the same lines? I've heard rumors- and note this, rumors only- that Taiwan got "a few" of the old Union of South Africa's nuclear warheads...

[M Kehoe]

I say sell them a boomer and watch the Chicoms pee in their pants.

Only kidding.

5.56mm

[Al B.]

Taiwan's China Times cited Taiwan's military sources that the US government has agreed its Northrop Grumman shipbuilding corp's negotiation on the types of submarines, contract, price and other matters with Taiwan, the US side will send personnel to Taiwan for negotiation as soon as possible.

Looks like the good folks at NG/Newport News Shipbuilding are gonna get some more submarine business. This is good news.

A couple of Virginia-class boats and a boomer should do the trick. :-))

[Eric in the Ozarks]

South Africa provided the Israelis with their first A bomb in the early 1960's.

[tlrugit]

Probably German conventional boats. Not nukes but very quiet, by all accounts, and just dandy for short operational ranges. Give the People's Liberation Army Navy something to think about.

Might not be such a bad idea to make a similar deal with the Phillipines, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam (Well, why not? Any non-friend of China is a friend to us.).

[Al B.]

Probably German conventional boats....Might not be such a bad idea to make a similar deal with the Phillipines, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam (Well, why not? Any non-friend of China is a friend to us.).

I understand they're going to be diesel boats. I was just kidding above.

This raises an interesting point. OldDominion, do you know if they're going with an old design or are they going to design a new boat? Also, this is where the Northrop Grumman deal could really pay off if they would peddle a new design to other countries. Northrop has lots of experience with foreign gov'ts. They sold that little F5 to darn near everybody.

[arm958]

I say sell them a boomer and watch the Chicoms pee in their pants.

Something tells me that Taiwan could have nuclear weapons in short order if the Taiwanese government made it a priority. They are too smart and resourceful for me to believe otherwise. If that happned, wouldn't it stifle mainland China's invasion dreams?