TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) confirmed on Tuesday (June 18) that a Chinese submarine was spotted surfacing near the median line of the Taiwan Strait by Penghu fishermen earlier that day.
Koo added that the Ministry of Defense had been aware of the situation through undisclosed surveillance methods.
Regarding the surveillance methods and the intent of the Chinese submarine, Koo said he was not at liberty to disclose the details, maintaining the information is confidential.
He made these remarks while addressing the media before a legislative report and question session led by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) at the Legislative Yuan.
According to local media reports, Penghu fishermen suddenly saw a submarine surface while fishing for squid near the median line of the strait early in the morning. Shortly after, a Chinese Navy ship arrived to provide support and sailed away toward China.
According to posts in social media groups that analyzed the photos, the submarine is speculated to be China's latest Type 096 ballistic missile submarine.
