German HDW: US not be Able to Sell Submarines to Taiwan

Peoples Daily (CCP NEWS) ^ | 6/21/02

[Enemy Of The State]

German HDW: US not be Able to Sell Submarines to Taiwan

Germany's largest shipbuilding Corp. HDW on June 19 expressed to local media that the United States will not be able to sell submarines to Taiwan through HDW because German laws do not permit such deal.

HDW chairman says that "it is impossible" to sell 209-type submarine to Taiwan as German laws do not allow any sale of military equipment to war-danger countries or regions, Taiwan belongs to such a region.

Not long ago, American One Equity Partners (OEP) acquired HDW's 75 percent share, it will also sign an agreement on forging a strategic partnership with the US Northrop Grumman two weeks later.

Sources said that this would make it possible for the United States to carry out the plan for selling eight 209-type submarines to Taiwan approved by President Bush in June 2001.

America had stopped manufacture of this type of conventional submarines 40 years ago.

The chairman said that Germany has a very strict related law, it not only prohibits HDW's direct sale of submarines to any country, but also demands that submarine-recipient countries guarantee not to resell it to war-danger countries or regions.

Consequently, although the German company will sign a strategic partnership agreement with the US company, it does not mean that the United States can sell submarine to Taiwan.

By PD Online Staff Li Yan


Questions?Comments? Click here

[Mr.Clark]

They didn't have a problem selling subs to Israel, is that not a war danger region? To scared to annoy the Red Chinese I bet.

[fiftymegaton]

Cant sell to a war-danger country?? IT IS A FREAKING SUBMARINE!!!(a warship)

[BrooklynGOP]

HDW chairman says that "it is impossible" to sell 209-type submarine to Taiwan as German laws do not allow any sale of military equipment to war-danger countries or regions, Taiwan belongs to such a region.

That makes little sense. Why would a country that is not in a "war-danger" need to buy military equipment?

[F-117A]

Germany didn't have any trouble selling arms to Croatia.

[GuillermoX]

Yup. All because of China.

[LenS]

Tell that to his workers when he tries to lay them off instead of making these subs. The subs will be built.

The Israelis subs were sort of a guilt payment after the Scud attacks by the Germans over German companies that had helped Saddam in his WMD programs. Germany converted it's normal reparation payments to Israel into the first two subs (Israel paid for the third sub) -- Israel got what it needed more than cash and Germany kept shipbuilders working.

[vannrox]

There is more to this than what meets the eye. Personally, Taiwan is going to get some submarines. German law or not.

[Righty1]

I see a sub plant in Taiwan's future.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

HDW chairman says that "it is impossible" to sell 209-type submarine to Taiwan as German laws do not allow any sale of military equipment to war-danger countries or regions, Taiwan belongs to such a region.

Well that doesn't square with all those Bio-agent cooking vats they were/are selling to Saddam Hussein now does it?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Maybe they can outsourse the work to the U.S.A..

[BenLurkin]

Bush never made good on his promises to Taiwan after he caved to Red China on the "spy plane" incident.

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't like it, but it is a German company and they have to follow their policies.

That said, WHY in the blue hell is a German company building AMERICAN subs???

[finnman69]

BECAUSE WE DON'T BUILT DIESEL ELECTRIC SUBS.....

[itsahoot]

BECAUSE WE DON'T BUILT DIESEL ELECTRIC SUBS.....

Or much of anything else anymore.....sadly.

[GuillermoX]

Bush is a piece of trash. I've had it with that ultra-left wing non-sentient chimp of a pretend President.

But of course, the vast majority of this forum with their sheep-like mentality will tell us how great he is and defend his open border policy. They actually bought the line that we can't have our borders protected from invaders due to "cultural and historical" reasons.

[brat]

The WTO and FREE TRADE are a tool of extortion. First it was Denmark and France, who make our subs. Now its Germany too? This is the greatest threat to nat'l security than any mad Islamic.

[Lake]

>>Tell that to his workers when he tries to lay them off instead of making these subs. The subs will be built.

Of course China is going to offer Germany big business opportunities in compensation. There are many subway projects in China's big cities and Germany has already completed one in Guangzhou.