Taiwan Tragedy

Taiwan's navy has appealed for help from local fisherman, offering a cash reward to anyone who finds a torpedo its sailors lost during a drill last week. The offer follows four days of futile searching in the area around the Tsoying base in southern Taiwan, the navy said in a statement on Tuesday.

Any fisherman who snares the German-built SUT torpedo will scoop 30,000 Taiwan dollars (£630).It is the second time submariners aboard the Dutch-made Hai Long, or "Sea Dragon" have lost a torpedo. In 2003 the missing weapon was washed ashore.

Taiwan relies heavily on foreign countries for its weapons, and Beijing annually condemns US sales of missiles and helicopters to Taipei. Under a 1979 Act of Congress, Washington is legally obliged to help Taiwan defend itself.

Taiwan has been ruled by its own government since the Chinese Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949. Taipei says it needs the latest US military technology to counter the threat posed by the estimated 1000-1500 missiles aimed at the island by China.

Marine Security

The US Navy says dolphins and sea lions will stand guard this year at a submarine base to detect any underwater swimmers who might approach the base on Hood Canal.The US Navy is keeping security details secret, but the environmental impact statement for the project said there would be fewer than 20 animals kept in heated enclosures when not on patrol in Washington state. 
Marine mammals have been used as guards for years at another Trident submarine base at King's Bay, Georgia. Navy spokesman Tom LaPuzza in San Diego told the Kitsap Sun that Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions are ready to go on patrol at Bangor. The dolphins can find an intruder and release a beacon. Sea lions can attach a cuff to a swimmer's leg.