A brilliant, long, Reuters investigation of the China threat to Taiwan and ways to counter it, including Taiwan's use of submarines.
Part One:By David Lague and Maryanne Murray published Nov, 5, 2021 at https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-wargames/
Titled “China’s quest to rule Taiwan has already begun with a campaign of “gray-zone” warfare. Here is how military strategists believe the struggle might play out.” With terrific graphics and excellent research.
Some Part One excerpts:
“Tokyo, one of America’s closest allies, has also been reticent to get involved. Japan operates one of the world’s most advanced conventional submarine fleets. The idea of helping Taiwan was informally discussed in Japan but was dropped out of concern over how China might react, according to two senior defense ministry sources in Tokyo.”
“One reason for Japan’s hesitancy is fear of the economic consequences of offending Beijing, said retired Vice Admiral Yoji Koda, a former fleet commander of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Japanese companies that would stand to lose business in China for helping Taiwan are a powerful lobby, Koda said.”
"Reuters found at least 12 foreign engineers who said in interviews or on social media that they had worked on the submarine program or worked for Gavron in Taiwan.
...[Taiwan] also succeeded in hiring engineers, technicians and former naval officers from at least five other countries: Australia, South Korea, India, Spain and Canada. Based at a shipyard in the port city of Kaohsiung, the experts have advised the Taiwanese navy and state-backed shipbuilder CSBC Corporation Taiwan, the company building the new submarines.
... a mix of young and veteran submarine experts – had experience working on advanced submarine programs. These included the S-80 built by Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia and Britain’s nuclear-powered Astute-class attack subs built by BAE Systems, according to the recruits’ social media profiles.
...According to two sources in Taiwan, Lockheed Martin Corp is providing the subs’ combat system, which integrates and displays sonar and other sensor data to allow commanders to engage targets. Raytheon Technologies Corp is supplying the sonars, the sources said."
Part Two:Published Nov. 29/30, 2021 at https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-submarines/.
Titled: “Taiwan has stealthily recruited expertise and technology from around the world to build a submarine fleetto serve as a deterrent against a Chinese invasion. Risking Beijing's ire, defense companies and engineers from at least seven countries are helping the diplomatically isolated island.”
Some Part Two excerpts:
"...For Beijing, success [in taking over Taiwan] would translate into a commanding strategic position in Asia, undermining the security of Japan and South Korea, and allowing China to project power into the Western Pacific."
"...For the American alliance, a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would be a devastating blow. At a stroke, the United States would lose its status as the pre-eminent power in Asia, according to most U.S. and regional military experts. If America were unwilling or unable to defend Taiwan, its network of allies in the Asia-Pacific – including Tokyo, Seoul and Canberra – would overnight be far more vulnerable to military and economic coercion from China. Some might switch allegiance to Beijing, analysts say. Some might seek nuclear weapons to boost their own security."
OUR COMMENT
There are many references to submarines througout Parts One and Two.
We suggest readers use Control + F inserting "Submarine" to find them.
Petra and Pete