Taiwan airs impressive shipbuilding ambitions

The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) Program Office recently announced in Taipei a major indigenous development programme spanning ten vessel types. It represents a desire for Taiwan to be less dependent on the US for naval requirements.

Indigenous production calls for spending of US$14.7 billion over a 23-year period out to 2040, including submarines, destroyers, guided missile frigates, landing platform docks (LPD), 2,500t multipurpose transports, additional catamaran-hulled Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, rescue vessel, ocean surveillance ship, minelayers and tugboats. 

Interestingly, an ROCN press release a day earlier included a landing helicopter dock (LHD), but it disappeared at the official briefing