The most prominent diesel submarine builders are Germany, The Netherlands and Italy. However, Germany and The Netherlands said after President Bush announced the sale that they would not provide blueprints for their sub designs to the U.S. for the construction of Taiwanese submarines. But Taiwanese defense officials remain optimistic that the construction of the vessels could eventually go through. Meanwhile, from Taiwan s China Shipbuilding Corp. yesterday asserted that the company would be capable of manufacturing the submarines in collaboration with a foreign company, the paper said. The method would be that the US or a number of some other countries provides materials, technique, and blueprints and that the China Shipbuilding can carry out the construction.
China is opposed to the U.S. arms package.
One of Taiwan's two 1980s-era diesel subs. 2001 Newsline USA . All rights reserved.