Taipei, Oct 11 – Taiwanese defence experts say China cannot easily seal off the island with only a handful of submarines. At a seminar held by the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, strategic‑studies scholar Alexander Huang of Tamkang University challenged a claim made by China‑watcher Willy Lam, who said four or five submarines could enforce a naval blockade around Taiwan.
Lam told a Washington symposium that China’s navy could “just drop a few subs and block the sea lanes.” Huang countered that even nuclear‑powered submarines have limits. They can stay underwater for weeks, but crews still need food, rest and rotations. A single vessel can’t stay in place forever, he said, and crews have to surface eventually.
The Taiwanese analyst added that any attempt to block the island would expose the submarines to high risk. Other navies—especially the United States—could intercept them and cut off their return to Chinese ports. Taiwan, he pointed out, has the means to strike back at any hostile subs.
Huang warned that a long‑lasting blockade would invite a strong international response. The United States could lock Chinese ships in the Strait of Malacca or target the Yangshan Port near Shanghai, which would hit China’s economy hard.
Lam’s comments sparked quick rebuttals from Taiwan officials. Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s Representative to the U.S., said the people of Taiwan would defend themselves no matter what. Liang Wen‑chieh, deputy head of the Mainland Affairs Council, dismissed Lam’s theory, arguing that if a simple blockade were so easy, Taiwan’s decades of defence buildup would have been pointless.
The debate underscores Taiwan’s firm stance that China’s military push—including any naval blockade—remains more theoretical than practical. As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, experts say that real‑world logistics and global reactions make a Chinese submarine blockade highly unlikely.
Source: aninews
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