Taiwan to build its own submarine, president vows on visit to 50-year-old vessel

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen waves as she boards Hai Lung-class submarine (SS-794) during her visit to a navy base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) - Taiwan will build its own submarines, President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Tuesday, as the self-ruled island looks to fresh arms sales by the United States, accompanied by key submarine technology, to counter a growing military threat from China.

China has never renounced the use of force to take back what it deems a wayward province, and Taiwan's defence ministry says China has more than 1,000 missiles directed at the island.