Well that would still mean that a EUROPEAN design is needed.The EU doesnt want to upset its ties with China.An easy way out would have been for Japan to part with some of its SSK tech,but that would really p*** off Beijing.The problem is acerbated by the fact that there are effectively 3 SSK Designer/builders in Europe-Germany,France & the Dutch.
The Japanese make good subs. They could build some for Taiwan. Of course, a lot of Japanese factories in China would be torched.