The Navy on Tuesday held a "keel laying" ceremony for an indigenously built
submarine prototype.

It came a year after work began to signal the completion of the vessel's
first construction phase.

The ceremony was presided over by Navy Commander Admiral Liu Chih-pin and
Cheng Wen-lon, chairman of Taiwan shipbuilder CSBC.

Liu called on all parties involved in the submarine's construction to
prioritize safety and maintain confidentiality to ensure that the project is
completed on schedule.

The ceremony means the builder has successfully connected the submarine's
sail to its main hull and passed required pressure tests.

The government has allocated NT$49 billion over seven years to build an
indigenous submarine, with the goal of boosting Taiwan's defense capabilities
amid China's growing military prowess.

The prototype is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and delivered to the Navy
in 2025.