TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said Tuesday (Oct. 17) that he is aware of South Korea's ongoing judicial investigation into several firms involved in Taiwan's navy submarine project.
Chiu's comments followed a Reuters report published Monday, which stated that three South Korean marine technology companies, including SI Innotec, are facing charges for allegedly violating trade laws.
They are accused of participating in Taiwan's military submarine program, specifically manufacturing the Narwhal class of submarines.
According to an affidavit seen by Reuters, South Korean authorities claim the deal between SI Innotec and Taiwan "directly impacts the overall security of South Korea." They also expressed concerns about potential economic retaliation from China.
Prior to attending a legislative session at the Legislative Yuan, Chiu said the matter had been referred to Taiwan's judicial authorities for further investigation. He declined to make additional comments to avoid " complicating the situation."
Despite the legal challenges, Chiu underscored the significance of Taiwan having its first domestically-built submarine. "It's a positive initiative," he said, adding that he hopes the issue can be resolved peacefully through open dialogue.
"The last thing we want is to create more problems in the process of solving them," he added.
Chiu also discussed the timeline for the submarine project, emphasizing that established procedures must be followed. "The first prototype submarine must undergo a rigorous evaluation after being built. If it fails, we cannot proceed hastily. We also need to adhere to the principle of military preparation — steady and stable," said the defense minister.
In conclusion, Chiu expressed concern about the potential impacts on the program but vowed to remain vigilant about developments.