Taiwan's presidential candidates at loggerheads over submarines

Program's chief dismisses opposition accusations of excessive cost

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The opposition Kuomintang has questioned the costs associated with manufacturing the Narwhal, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine. © Reuters

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

TAIPEI -- Ahead of Taiwan's presidential election next month, candidates are at loggerheads over moves to develop submarines domestically to counter the military threat from China, highlighting the island's deep divisions over defense.

After Jaw Shaw-kang was named the running mate of opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih, he said their party would open an investigation into retired Adm. Huang Shu-kuang, a former chief of the armed forces who is now in charge of Taiwan's task force to manufacture submarines at home, if it wins power.

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