Taiwan launches submarine project in face of China threat

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

TAIWAN'S President Tsai Ing-wen launched the island's first-ever home-grown submarine project on Tuesday in the face of what the government says are growing military threats from China.

The move comes after China sent its only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait in January, in one of a number of military drills held as relations deteriorate. Taiwan last week warned of an increased invasion risk from China and has pledged to boost its military in response.

Ms Tsai called the launch of the submarine plan a "historic moment" at a naval base in southern city of Kaohsiung. She was presiding over a formal signing ceremony to initiate the project between the navy, Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC Corporation and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which develops combat system integrati…