TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's first domestically built submarine slipped out of port Thursday (July 3) for more crucial testing, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd waving national flags. The Hai Kun-class indigenous defense submarine (海鯤號潛艦), representing a milestone in Taiwan's defense autonomy efforts, departed for its third sea trial from the Port of Kaohsiung (高雄港), Taiwan's largest harbor in the southern part of the island. CSBC Corp., Taiwan (台灣國際造船股份有限公司), the state-affiliated shipbuilder responsible for the vessel's construction, strategically scheduled this test ahead of next week's annual Han Kuang Exercise (漢光演習), Taiwan's largest military drill simulating defense against a potential Chinese invasion. Company officials deployed a protective flotilla of support vessels to secure the submarine's testing area.
Marine observers noted the submarine successfully reached open waters beyond the harbor, where it performed what appeared to be a ballast tank clearing operation, evidenced by visible white smoke emanating from its aft section. According to CSBC Corp. officials, these sea trials adhere to a methodical three-phase testing protocol encompassing "surface navigation, shallow water submersion, and deep water submersion" capabilities, with engineers making technical adjustments based on performance data collected during each test. The shipbuilder has established an ambitious timeline to complete all necessary sea trials by late September, keeping the project on schedule for the contractually specified November delivery to Taiwan's navy.
The progressive advancement through these critical sea trials represents a watershed moment for Taiwan's defense industrial base and military modernization efforts. The submarine project, developed despite significant international pressure and technical challenges, demonstrates Taiwan's growing capacity to produce sophisticated weapons systems domestically rather than relying exclusively on foreign suppliers. Military analysts will scrutinize the submarine's performance metrics as Taiwan prepares for next week's Han Kuang Exercise, the annual military drill that tests the island's ability to withstand a potential cross-strait conflict, providing valuable insights into Taiwan's evolving maritime defense strategy amid regional tensions. ◼