Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: smolejv@gmx.net who wrote (5169)	6/21/2001 8:49:58 PM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Hi DJ, Following up on our earlier joke that the US ought to buy the conventional subs from China to resell to Taiwan, it now looks like that the mainlanders may get a chance to make a sub-contract deal with the Russians 'civilians' who in turn will sell conventional subs to Taiwan, else China will no doubt make a fuss on something the Russians care about. The Russians can even offer to provide an entire Chinese-speaking crew, along with Chinese language users manual and toilet door signs, maybe even a new national flag design, with 5 stars :0) Chugs, Jay china.scmp.com QUOTE Friday, June 22, 2001 'Russian experts' brief Taiwan on sub plans FONG TAK-HO Taiwan is holding secret talks with private Russian experts about the island's capability to build Russian-designed Kilo-class submarines, a defence magazine reported. The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly said Taiwan was engaged in negotiations with several unidentified Russians to investigate whether it could build electric-powered patrol submarines, although the talks were "unsanctioned by either government". The report comes at a time when Moscow and Beijing are developing close ties in political, economic and military fields. Russia has become a major supplier of advanced weaponry to China in recent years. Two years ago, China bought 40 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter-bombers from Russia. Taiwan's Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, under the Ministry of Defence, would be "almost certain" to lead the programme if it was implemented, the report quoted sources in Taiwan as saying. According to the report, the island's government-run China Shipbuilding Corporation would be responsible for the construction work. Taiwan has long been eager to obtain new submarines to supplement or replace its current fleet. The navy operates two Hai Lung-class submarines bought from the Netherlands between 1987 and 1988. The sale of the two submarines led to a serious setback in diplomatic relations between Beijing and Amsterdam. Since then, Beijing has blocked all efforts by Taipei to buy additional submarines, until President George W. Bush reversed earlier US policy in April by saying it was prepared to help Taiwan obtain as many as eight Kilo-class submarines, the report said. Since the US has stopped making the Kilo-class submarines, it was suggested the US might use a Dutch or German design, but both countries rejected any proposed involvement. Earlier reports said that Taiwan was interested in a Russian-built submarine a decade ago but Moscow rejected the request. Taipei later tried to hire Russian designers and experts under private contracts but that was not successful. The Taoyuan-based Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology is Taiwan's leading institute on the island responsible for the research, development and design of defence technology. It employs 6,000 scientists and more than 8,000 technicians. The Kaohsiung-based China Shipbuilding Corporation runs some of Taiwan's best research laboratories. A company executive refused to comment on the report yesterday. UNQUOTE