Taiwan (MND) Say's US Support F-16s Limited By Concerns About Chinese Response.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on 8 January that US interest in maintaining its relationship with China was the reason Washington had not approved the sale of submarines or advanced combat aircraft to the Island.

Taiwan (MND) Say's US Support F-16s Limited By Concerns About Chinese Response.

The MND said the administration of US President Barack Obama continues to describe Taiwan's request for submarines as "still under cross-agency review".

The Obama administration has also demurred on supplying 66 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D aircraft, although it is supporting the upgrade of the island's about 145 F-16A/Bs.

According to the report, US reluctance to provide the island with submarines has forced the MND to "integrate domestic shipbuilding capabilities with foreign assistance" to build an indigenous submarine fleet.

The MND announced approval of a four-year design contract for an indigenous submarine on 29 December 2014. It is due to start in 2016. 

Taiwanese officials have said the country is still seeking Washington's assistance with technology transfers and the sale of equipment for the build stage.

The report was released two days after Defense Minister Yen Ming admitted that Taiwan had yet to decide whether to purchase all four Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates offered by the United States. Obama signed legislation on 18 December 2014 that authorised the sale of the four frigates, which were commissioned between 1984 and 1985.

Yen said a final decision will be made after the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) has completed a full evaluation of USS Carr and USS Elrod "to determine whether they are suitable for the [its] needs" and that "the components and weapon systems can be retrofitted".

Carr was decommissioned in March 2013 while Elrod is due to be decommissioned later this January. The other two frigates offered to Taiwan - USS Taylor and USSGary - remain in active service.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's first indigenous Tuo Jiang-class stealth corvette participated in an RoCN exercise on 1 January, seven days after the catamaran was delivered.

The two-day 'New Year's Day Naval Combat Readiness Patrol' exercise involved 13 vessels and took place in waters off Taiwan's southwest coast. Defence officials said the drill was aimed at testing Tuo Jiang's "capabilities and manoeuvrability."

The commander of the drill, Lieutenant General Huang Shu-kuang, said when crew training is completed Tuo Jiang will be deployed alongside Chinchiang-class corvettes.