Malfunction Likely Brought It to the Surface
As a Chinese nuclear submarine surfaced in the Taiwan Strait, sparking controversy, Taiwanese authorities are investigating the matter.
According to major foreign media on the 18th (local time), Ku Li-hsiung, Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, said that they are "grasping the relevant information situation." However, he did not disclose detailed information such as how they are monitoring the Chinese submarine.
Earlier, Taiwanese foreign media reported photos of a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the Taiwan Strait about 200 km west of Taiwan at dawn that day. The photos, taken by local fishing boats, captured the moment the surface of a submarine, believed to be a Jin-class ballistic missile nuclear submarine, rose above the water.
Minister Ku stated, "We must remain vigilant against China's ongoing military harassment and gray zone threats," adding, "We must always understand China's continuous salami tactics aimed at unilateral status quo changes."
He continued, "We must always be vigilant but should neither be fearful nor indifferent, and respond calmly to the situation in the strait," adding, "We will not be the provocateurs and urge China not to cause trouble."
A source familiar with the matter analyzed that the incident might have occurred while the submarine was returning to the Qingdao base from the South China Sea. It is also speculated that a malfunction caused the submarine to surface.
China frequently sends military aircraft and warships to the middle of the Taiwan Strait or the southwestern Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to conduct shows of force. On the 23rd of last month, just three days after Lai Ching-te took office as Taiwan's president, China conducted military exercises surrounding Taiwan in multiple areas including the west, north, and east of the main island.
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