Taiwan says European countries helping with submarine project

FILE PHOTO: The Hai Lung SS-793 diesel-electric submarine emerges from underwater during a during a drill near Yilan naval base, Taiwan April 13, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

TAIPEI (Reuters) - European countries are providing help for Taiwan's indigenous submarine project, the island's defence ministry said, in a rare admission that the sensitive programme is not getting assistance solely from the United States.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has worked for years to revamp its submarine force, some of which dates back to World War Two. It is no match for China's fleet, which includes vessels capable of launching nuclear weapons.