The crew of Taiwan's Sea Tiger submarine went on combat alert after radars detected a suspicious object. Torpedo tubes were flooded and ready for firing.
It was a routine drill aboard the Dutch-made Zwaardvis class submarine, The Sea Tiger, and its identical sister vessel, the Sea Dragon -- Taiwan's only combat-ready submarines.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Taiwan has long sought to upgrade its feeble fleet of four submarines, which also includes a pair of Guppy IIs -- rusty relics of World War II.
But nobody has dared deliver the goods to Taiwan since China downgraded relations with the Netherlands from 1981 to 1984 over its sale of the two diesel-electric submarines.
China, for its part, maintains a fleet of about 60 to 70 submarines.
Only a handful are thought to be operational, but Beijing has spent billions of dollars on four Russian Kilo class diesel submarines that give it a clear edge over Taiwan, according to US officials.
"The two [Dutch] submarines are in excellent condition," said Peter Wang, security officer of the Sea Tiger, at a naval base in southern Taiwan. "We are well trained and ready to fight. But we need more."
Taiwan's pleas for more submersibles had been left unanswered until earlier this year when US President George W. Bush agreed to sell eight diesel submarines in the biggest arms sale package in more than a decade.
But months have passed and it is unclear how the US will provide the vessels because it builds only nuclear submarines, and not the promised diesel ones.
Experts have said the submarines would likely be Dutch-designed and German-built boats equipped with US technology and supplied under a deal brokered by the US.
But the Netherlands and Germany have denied they would export or build submarines for Taiwan.
"We are still talking with the US side," said a Taiwanese naval officer who declined to be identified.
Chung Chien, a military expert who teaches at the Armed Forces University, said the US would likely help the nation build the vessels themselves.
A spokesman for Taiwan's state-run China Shipbuilding Corp said the firm could build the submarines -- with help.
Washington also plans to sell Taiwan four Kidd class destroyers and a dozen P-3 "Orion" anti-submarine aircraft.
But the submarines will make the biggest splash.
Officials and analysts agree Taiwan's biggest threat is not conventional warfare, but a Chinese missile attack or naval blockade.
With submarines, Taiwan could thwart an amphibious attack from China and give its navy an offensive capability.
Beijing argues submarines are not defensive weapons and should not be provided under the US Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges Washington to provide Taiwan with enough arms to defend itself.
New submarines could undermine China's three main options for retaking Taiwan -- amphibious assault, naval blockade and missile strikes, defense analysts say.
In combination with Taiwanese jet fighters, they could scupper an amphibious assault launched from China's east coast.
But more worrying for Beijing, the submarines could eventually be used to launch cruise missiles to respond to or pre-empt a missile attack from China.
Commander Wang, who has served aboard the Sea Tiger since shortly after Taiwan took delivery of the two vessels in 1987, said he was confident the sub would soon get undersea companions.
"We have overcome the biggest obstacle -- the US has said yes. I have never felt so confident."
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