Taiwan to contact The Los Clintonos Labs for free information.
/sarcasm
They would be better off to hire engineers and design their own and build it themselves. They could base the design on one of their newer subs and just update the on-board equipment, or maybe "buy" by fair means or foul a basic design and modify it to their needs. That would put their fate more fully in their own hands. Otherwise they are just opening themselves up for more Chinese blackmail of German, Dutch, and American governments.
What Taiwan really needs are SSBNs!
ping
I dunno...if they don't want to pay anything for it...maybe they don't deserve it.
Well the PLA already has an advantage over Taiwan.Even if Taiwan does manage to get to buy 8 diesel subs(trouble is who is going to sell them),it will take atleast 5 years before the 1st is delivered-by 2006 ,China will start taking delivery of the 1st of 6 kilo class subs from Russia,which are equipped with supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles& AIP-far far superior to anything that Taiwanese have.
I honestly don't see the EU going to continue its arms embargo on China(hell ,even the Brits want it lifted).If China doesn't strike Taiwan now,it will probably be lifted by 2006-U cannot ignore a market the size of China.After all the only market that comes near to China is that of India,which has Israel as it 2nd biggest supplier,followed by France.I don't think the EU will immediately allow the sale of heavy duty stuff like subs or fighter aircraft & will possibly begin with electronic systems & Design help,much like the way they engage India.