TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) warned on Wednesday (Dec. 18) that if the budget for the follow-up submarines after the Hai-kun class is cut, the integration will be delayed by two years until 2027. Koo's remarks came ahead of the Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee's review of the central government's budget.
Koo emphasized that the budget for subsequent submarines will not be utilized until Hai-kun's sea trials are successful. Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislators Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) and Huang Ren (黃仁) have proposed cutting the NT$2 billion budget for the Navy's third phase of the Indigenous Defense Submarine program. Koo urged lawmakers to support the budget after successful sea trials.
Koo stated that the indigenous submarine program is crucial for enhancing defense capabilities. The Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) will conduct Hai-kun's tests safely and steadily, using the budget only after successful trials. He also noted that cutting next year's budget would disrupt pre-material preparations and subcontractor collaborations, potentially impacting the submarine program and efforts to improve national defense autonomy.
The ongoing budget discussions highlight the tension between fiscal responsibility and defense priorities. As the Foreign and National Defense Committee continues its review, Koo's call for support underscores the importance of securing the future of Taiwan's defense initiatives.
