Taiwan’s Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) Program faces potential budget cuts as opposition lawmakers propose eliminating funding for the vessel construction. Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) addressed the issue on Wednesday, warning that delaying the budget allocation could postpone the project by two years.
During the Legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee budget review for 2025, KMT lawmakers proposed freezing or completely removing the submarine program budget. This includes the proposal to remove the NT$2 billion (US$61.5 million) allocated from a total budget of NT$284 billion (US$7.62 billion) for subsequent vessel construction, citing concerns about the prototype vessel "Hai Kun" not yet completing sea trials.
Koo says the Hai Kun submarine is scheduled for sea trials in September 2025, which falls outside the current budget cycle. The IDS could face significant setbacks if budget discussions are delayed until 2026. He stresses that these potential budget cuts could substantially impact the project's timeline and national defense capabilities.
Minister Koo pledged to ensure safe and stable testing of the Hai Kun submarine and promised not to spend its construction budgets before sea trials. Koo says he will remain committed to discussions with legislators and maintain the momentum of Taiwan’s IDS program efforts, which are crucial for enhancing the national defense capabilities.