What if:- The US never breaks with Taiwan

 The ROCN has gotten great service out of those Dutch submarines.   They're also a direct descendant of the Barbel design.    Unfortunately they're the only modern submarines they have.  

Taiwan is  in a bad spot with respect to Submarines.   They're still using World War II-era US subs.  


Hai Shih (Sea Lion, ex-USS Cutlass) is getting her service life extended to 2026 and is supposed to be combat capable.  

Hai Pao (Seal, ex-USS Tusk) is still afloat and used for training. 

There is an effort to build submarines domestically, and supposedly a number of US and European firms want to help the ROCN in the effort.   

In the longer term, if/when the ROCN does build its own submarines, they can equip them however they wish.   So the PRCs efforts to block arms sales could backfire. with the ROCN having a submarine launched land attack missile as part of the armament....
 

Regards,

Edit -- Apologies for sidetracking the hypothetical into current events....