Taiwan Needs Additional F-16 Jets to Counter China, Group Says

Buisnessweek ^ | 5/11/2010 | Tony Capaccio

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Taiwan needs as many as 66 more Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 fighter jets to counter China’s growing air defense and attack capability, according to a report by a pro-Taiwan advocacy group.

“China’s rapid, sustained military modernization over the last two decades has steadily eroded Taiwan’s relative capabilities in maintaining a viable air defense,” the U.S.- Taiwan Business Council said yesterday in a report released in Washington.

Taiwan’s request in 2006 to buy the fighters wasn’t pursued by the administration of President George W. Bush and so far hasn’t been backed by President Barack Obama in the face of opposition from the Chinese government.

The Bush administration refused in 2006 and 2007 to accept a formal Taiwan request, according to the Congressional Research Service. Nor was it part of the proposed U.S. sale to Taiwan of missiles, helicopters and ships valued at about $6.4 billion that Congress in March allowed to go forward.

The Obama administration has about a year to make a decision before Lockheed Martin produces the last planes on contract, the council said.

“With the last F-16s under contract slated to be delivered by the end of 2013, and given the 36-month manufacturing lead time, the production could be forced to close before a decision is made,” the report said. “The window for Taiwan to purchase new-built F-16s is closing rapidly.”

Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Laurie Quincy in Fort Worth, Texas, where the jets are manufactured, said the current F-16 backlog continues the production line through May 20

[Tainan]

A poorly researched and mis-informed article. Its is obvious that little to no research was done in preparing this piece and whoever, if anyone, who edited it was also lacking in background knowledge.
Sales of these items was OK'd under GW Bush and has been on repeated hold by the Taiwanese legislative Yuan, their Congressional house, political infighting ever since it was 1st OK'd by the US side. The terms of the contract are still open and ObieWan is obliged to fulfill the sale if Taiwan ever decides to move forward on this matter.

[dfwgator]

China will gain Taiwan without firing a shot, they’ll just buy them out.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Well, I am glad that you pointed out the mistakes.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

China has about four times the gross domestic product of Taiwan

[Doe Eyes]

South Korea’s GDP is over 30 times that of North Korea.

[freedumb2003]

F-16 Ping...

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I did not know that.

[Jet Jaguar]

F-16 ping

[freedumb2003]

My God — do you have a bot?

Your ping from a ping is almost always nearly instantaneous!! :)

Or are you like me and just can’t sleep sometimes?

[Jet Jaguar]

No bot. I just got off work. Browsing the FR by comments, not articles.

Seeing what people are talking about realtime. I find this way of browsing, I stay up on the latest news and trends.

Thanks for the ping, BTW!

JJ

[freedumb2003]

>>No bot. I just got off work. Browsing the FR by comments, not articles.<<

Just joshing — I stay up, too.

But for me, it is just chronic insomnia. :)

[Jet Jaguar]

:0)

[Tainan]

These a/c are part of a big package deal. It included Patriot missiles and electronic targeting components, Helicopters, etc. along with a lot of upgrades for ELINT and EWF components.
Taiwan has F-16A/B models, as well as some very long in the tooth Mirages jets and a homegrown a/c called the IDF - Indigenous Defense Fighter. A good a/c, but hampered by old technology.
hey really need/want the upgrade packages for the F-16C/D models to bring their air capabilities up to standard.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Why not give them a blank check and say to Taiwan and Israel take what ever American technology you need to defend yourself.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

No strings attached.

[Tainan]

As for Taiwan, the reason to "Just Say No" to that kind of blank technology check is the fact that it, the technology, would wind up in the PRC/CCP within days, if not hours, of being transferred to Taiwan/ROC.
The required security is not, and has never been, in place. It would be sold/transferred almost immediately.
This is a problem.

Israel is a completely different story. They pretty much have their lids screwed down pretty tight and compartmentalization in place.

Of course this is just my opinion on things.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Why can we apply the same standards to Taiwan in regards to technology transfers as we do to Israel? We keep a close eye on Taiwan on use of American military technology. I would rather give American military technology to Taiwan than Pakistan. Pakistan is the biggest “leaker” of U.S. military technology than Taiwan.