[Llarry]

Taiwan (the Republic of China) faces a large number of mainland Chinese submarines. The ROCN has only four boats -- two Dutch-built Zwaardis class boats from the 1980s and two antique U.S. World War II-built boats that are not good for much.

For years Taiwan has been looking for a solution for submarines and they finally decided to go it alone. The first (of 8 planned) locally-built boats is undergoing sea trials. Hai Kun (SSN-711) is based on the Dutch Zwaardis design but with upgrades, including lithium-ion main batteries.