Taipei: Opposition lawmakers have successfully passed a motion to freeze half of the proposed 2025 budget for Taiwan's indigenous defense submarines (IDS) program until the prototype, Narwhal, undergoes a sea acceptance test (SAT) this year. The Legislative Yuan approved the motion by a vote of 56-46, with 11 lawmakers absent due to commitments in the United States.

According to Focus Taiwan, the motion was supported by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), leading to the freezing of NT$1 billion out of the proposed NT$2 billion budget. This decision requires the Navy to wait for further military briefings after the SATs of the Narwhal, also known as Hai Kun, before accessing the funds.

KMT lawmaker Wang Wen-chun, a key proponent of the motion, expressed concerns regarding the delays in the IDS program and the capability of the prototype to meet Taiwan's defense needs. Monday's legislative session focused on reviewing several budget proposals from the government, with more motions expected to clear the floor on Tuesday.

The Narwhal, unveiled in Kaohsiung in September 2023, has completed approximately 80 percent of its harbor acceptance tests. The SATs are scheduled to start in April and conclude by October, aligning with the delivery deadline set for November, as stated by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

In addition to the Narwhal prototype, the MND has plans to construct seven more indigenous submarines between 2025 and 2038, with an estimated total expenditure of NT$284 billion.