Taiwan on Tuesday dismissed a report saying the island has dropped a request for US submarines, saying the vessels and fighter jets remained on the island's arms procurement agenda.
"It is absolutely untrue," Taiwan's defence ministry spokesman Yu Sy-tue told AFP.
"We hope the United States will provide submarines and F-16 C/Ds Taiwan has requested in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act," the spokesman said.
Yu was reacting to a report which cited an unnamed military source as saying that the island was no longer asking for the submarines, because of rapidly improving ties between Taipei and Beijing.
Good. Taiwan needs subs (and fighter aircraft, for that matter). Their very existence would force the Chinese invasion fleet to be a little more cautious in the strait. That could buy time Taiwan will sorely need if China invades.
But if the rumor is that Taiwan will not ask us for subs in order to smooth US-chinese relations (which should not be an issue for us, but might be) and Taiwan still wants subs, how do you square those two facts?
How about Taiwan buying submarines from Russia?
Russia could use the business; could use the distraction for China; and would enjoy showing us up a bit by supplying what we are apparently unable to arrange (we don't build them and can't get anyone to build them for Taiwan).
