【Epoch Times News on December 18, 2024】Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers proposed to cut the budget for the follow-up ships of the Navy’s Sea Kite-class submarines for the next fiscal year. Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-heng, stated that due to budget allocation issues, the entire schedule would be delayed by 2 years. The construction of domestically-built submarines and the enhancement of defense self-reliance would be significantly impacted, and ongoing communication with the lawmakers would continue.
The Republic of China is strengthening its underwater deterrence capabilities, with the Ministry of National Defense planning to allocate budgets for 14 years starting from next year, totaling NT$284 billion (about $91.3 billion USD), to procure 7 follow-up ships of the domestically-built Sea Kite-class submarines. The prototype submarine Sea Kite was launched in September 2023 and is currently undergoing harbor acceptance tests (HAT), with sea acceptance tests (SAT) expected to commence from April 1 next year.
KMT lawmakers Ma Wen-chun, Huang Jen, and Hsu Chiao-hsin proposed to delete or reduce the budget for the Navy’s “Submarine Domestic Construction – Phase 3 Follow-up Ship Construction (Sea Kite-class submarine follow-up ship)” for the next fiscal year. Ma Wen-chun and Huang Jen proposed to eliminate over NT$2 billion from the budget, while Hsu Chiao-hsin proposed a cut of over NT$1.7 billion. The Navy recently indicated that the allocation of over NT$2 billion for the next year would be mainly used for two purposes, including funding required operations and effective equipment procurement of over NT$200 million, as well as over NT$1.7 billion for shipyard contracting.
The Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee today reviewed the 114th (2025) Central Government Budget regarding the Ministry of National Defense’s management of public and confidential finances. Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-heng, conducted a media interview ahead of the meeting. Chiu expressed that the Ministry of National Defense would continue to communicate with lawmakers, emphasizing that the budget for the follow-up ships of the Sea Kite-class submarines would not be utilized until the Sea Kite’s sea acceptance tests are completed. He hoped for the lawmakers’ support once the sea trials of the Sea Kite are successful.
Chiu anticipates lawmaker support for the significant domestic submarine construction project, emphasizing its vital role in enhancing defense capabilities. The Ministry of National Defense will ensure the safe and steady conduct of harbor and sea trials related to the Sea Kite submarines. Upon successful sea trials, the budget for the follow-up ships will be utilized.
Regarding the scenario of complete budget removal for the Sea Kite-class submarines next year, causing a delay in the domestic submarine construction project, Chiu clarified that it primarily stems from annual budget allocation issues. The sea acceptance test for the Sea Kite is scheduled for September next year, which means that the budget planning for the following year, 115th (2026) fiscal year, would start in May of next year, but the sea trial results cannot be included in the 115th budget and would need to wait for the 116th budget. Therefore, the overall timeline would be delayed by 2 years. He mentioned that if the contract for domestic submarine construction by CSBC Corporation could proceed promptly, the construction timeline would not face delays.
On the matter of the impact of the failure to pass the submarine budget on international perceptions of Taiwan’s lack of self-defense determination, Chiu stated that it would affect the preparatory work for future submarines and disrupt the cooperation with subcontractors. Restarting the project after such interruptions, aside from budget delays, would involve re-engaging with subcontractors, leading to doubts about Taiwan’s commitment to submarine construction. Chiu stressed that the removal of the submarine budget by lawmakers would significantly impact the domestic submarine construction and the enhancement of defense capabilities.
Furthermore, on the criticism from American scholars about the lack of transparency in the Republic of China Ministry of National Defense regarding PLA provocations against Taiwan, Chiu pointed out the dilemma faced. The Ministry of National Defense desires transparency in its information sharing, but excessive disclosure could expose Taiwan’s capabilities and information sources to the Chinese Communist Party. As a result, the Ministry of National Defense will continue periodic evaluations on this matter.
Regarding the warning issued by the FBI to several American lawmakers, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to fabricate stories to discredit them due to their tough stance on China and support for Taiwan, Chiu emphasized that Taiwan receives bipartisan support from U.S. Senators and Representatives based on democratic values and shared principles. This bipartisan support reflects a democratic alliance concept, which is highly valuable and serves as the fundamental reason why Taiwan garners support from both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Congress.