According to a report cited by a U.S. media outlet that quoted sources from the Pentagon, a new nuclear-powered attack submarine belonging to the Chinese Communist Party sank during its launch this spring. Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Chiu Kexiong stated today (27th) that the Ministry of National Defense has gained some understanding of the incident through intelligence and monitoring means.
Multiple U.S. media outlets reported on the 26th, citing Pentagon sources, that a new nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Chinese Communist Party sank in the waters near Wuhan this spring. A senior U.S. defense official who declined to be named told the media that the U.S. has confirmed that the Chinese Communist Party’s first new type of nuclear-powered attack submarine sank near a dock between May and June.
Premier of the Executive Yuan of Taiwan, Su Tseng-chang, led heads of various ministries to the Legislative Yuan today for a government report and to respond to inquiries. Chiu Kexiong, before the meeting, stated in a media interview that the Ministry of National Defense has conducted some analysis based on relevant media reports and has gained some understanding through multiple intelligence and monitoring means.
Regarding the passage of New Zealand and Australian naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait on the 25th, Chiu Kexiong said that the Ministry of National Defense has a good grasp of the situation around the Taiwan Strait, but as a matter of policy, no comments will be made on this.
With regards to the procurement of 108 M1A2T tanks from the U.S. by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the first batch of 38 tanks is expected to arrive in Taiwan before the end of the year. However, some legislators pointed out that two training grounds are still unable to complete the first phase of construction until the year after next. Chiu Kexiong mentioned that due to the rise in raw material prices, there have been delays in the construction of the training grounds for the M1A2T tanks. Nevertheless, the existing training grounds should still have some training capacity, and the Ministry of National Defense will expedite the completion of the training grounds. Moreover, the existing training grounds can also engage in relevant training upon receiving the equipment.
Furthermore, concerning allegations from the public about a certain engineer at CSBC Corporation, Taiwan publicly posting sensitive information about domestically manufactured aircraft on social media, which may lead to a leak of classified information, Chiu Kexiong stated that representatives from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, CSBC Corporation, and the Air Force had visited the company for verification today. If there is any leaking of classified information, it will be handled in accordance with the National Security Act.