Taiwan’s defense matters have lately been a point of contention, specifically between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT), with the latter criticizing numerous initiatives of the former. Of particular interest is Taiwan’s domestic submarine program, which is in the crosshairs of the KMT.

Taiwan has ambitious plans to construct a fleet of seven submarines within the period of 2025 to 2038. The estimated budget for this project is around 284 billion Taiwanese dollars (equivalent to US$8.74 billion). The initial plan includes the construction of two submarines, followed by three, and then another two.

The Hai Kun, also known as the Narwhal, is Taiwan’s first domestically developed and manufactured submarine. Currently, it is undergoing Harbor Acceptance Tests, which are about 83 to 85 percent complete. While the DPP administrations, under Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-te, praise the progress of the domestic submarine program as a national achievement, the KMT criticizes its budget.

The proposed budget for the domestic submarine program for the upcoming year is NT$1.996 billion. However, the KMT has suggested a considerable cut of NT$1.7 billion NTD, almost a 90 percent reduction, a move which has garnered criticism.

The KMT’s Chen Yeon-kang has voiced concerns about the domestic submarine program, calling it a waste of money and questioning the government’s premature decision without adequate testing. In response, Minister of Defense Wellington Koo has reassured that further submarine construction will only proceed after successful testing of the Narwhal.

In addition, the KMT has been critical of the DPP’s attempts to strengthen the penalties for acts of treason. The KMT’s Weng Hsiao-liang has proposed to remove Article 9-3 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, which would prevent veterans from being punished for public loyalty vows to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Currently, the KMT appears to be standing firm on these issues, even with party chair Eric Chu reducing the power of the Huang Fu-hsing branch of the party earlier this year. This was seen as an attempt to moderate the KMT’s image or possibly to weaken potential challengers in the upcoming KMT chair election.

In the ongoing legislative session, the KMT has tried to obstruct the DPP’s budget for the next year multiple times, including the defense budget. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), a legislative ally of the KMT, has played a crucial role in these efforts. However, the TPP still attempts to maintain a more moderate stance than the KMT.

The KMT has also targeted the DPP’s efforts to reinforce civil defense. The Lai administration has a goal to train 400,000 individuals for a civil defense force, which includes reservists, firefighters, disaster relief teams, and volunteer police groups.

The DPP has emphasized the importance of civil defense efforts by appointing Puma Shen, co-founder of the Kuma Academy, to a prominent position on its party list. However, the KMT has been critical of such efforts, leading to accusations from the pan-Green camp that the KMT is attempting to demonize civil defense initiatives.

Given the public support for civil defense initiatives, it is apparent that China perceives such efforts as a growing threat.