Originally posted by: maddogchen
BTW: why do they assume its China? Taiwan has subs too.
Taiwan only has 4 diesel subs, and as far as I can remember none of them are less than 20 years in service.
Taiwan has NO nuclear subs, because US doesn't want Taiwan to have any of them.
Taiwan craves nuclear subs and nukes so we can finally have something to scare off China, but US doesn't want that to happen no matter how much we are willing to pay.
Taiwan is about to pass 20 billion dollar defense budget this year to buy 4 additional diesel subs and Patriot III missiles to be delivered in the next 15 years. I think it is too little, too late to be of any help against an imminent threat of a Chinese invasion.
US is the only country still willing to sell weapons to Taiwan. France used to be another option, but given their recent action to try to lift the EU weapons ban on China and all the other things kissing China's ass, I guess that is no longer an option.