[SolitaryMan]

Not sure if you have been on any modern diesel boats, I have been on British, German, Norwegean and Canadian boats, and they are small. My point is that China is building up its medium range ballistic missiles to pound Taiwan into submission. They are acurate and can deliver a variety of payloads. All China has to do is launch a hundred or so and Taiwan, being unable to protect itself, will probably surrender. The little diesel boats would be called off. BUT the diesel boats could easily patrol the entire width of the straights.

[aristeides]

Are those Chinese missiles accurate even despite electronic countermeasures? Are their launch pads invulnerable to attack?

[Ten Megaton Solution]

No, spent my time inside a 688.

It seems to me that Taiwan's strategy is to fight a delaying action if they need to and beg the world to save them. (world = the US, of course). And submarines would effectively bar the Strait to troopships. Everyone knows countries cannot be controlled from the air.