Taiwan Looks Now to Russia for Submarine Technology (20 Jun 2001)

Private individuals from Russia are pursuing exploratory discussions with Taiwan on the latter's capability to build the Russian-designed Kilo-class diesel-electric patrol submarine.

Moscow and Taipei have not officially the sanctions as the former has strong political and economic ties with Beijing. Such a program would almost certainly be led by Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, with construction by state-owned China Shipbuilding.

This project echoes failed Taiwanese efforts in recent years to buy the services of Russian submarine designers and technicians on private contract, in order to construct the submarines themselves and bypass Chinese powers to prevent Taiwan buying completed submarines. Defence industry officials are skeptical that Taiwan can build its own large submarines.

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