[Bald Eagle777]

Good.

[Brilliant]

If I were the Taiwanese, I would be looking at a nuclear missile threat instead of this.

[Integrityrocks]

Ya, well... good - depending on which way you look at it. Not that we are freinds with China, but this certainly cements that.

[The Lion Roars]

Will these come equipped with AESA and the latest AMRAAM?? The Taiwanese need AEGIS to hold off the Chicoms

[Spirited]

About time.

[NY Attitude]

The compatibility with the indigenous fighter will probably reduce their logistics cost.

[MediaMole]

F-16C/D models.

Too bad they can't get 66 F-15E Strike Eagles.

[BradtotheBone]

Too bad we just couldn't give them some nukes. Then lets see the Chinese invade.

[bannie]

Communist China's arms build up = purchases of our most vital military defense secrets in a transaction between billyblythe clinton and the ChiComs.

The bastard sold the future of our children, and he's still not in prison or on the end of a rope.

[gaijin]

Perhaps the Taiwanese will now have a prayer of downing some of those many PRC fighters that Israel so lavishly improved.

[arkham]

The major structural difference is a larger fuselage, which would result in a cabin that is 5 inches, or more than 12 centimeters, wider at eye level than that of the 787. This allows for more space and roomier seats.

Wow - almost an inch per seat more headroom! (sarcasm intended). Also, how about at fanny level, where it really counts?

[Alexander Rubin]

Good. But they should build some nukes.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

If the F-16C/D is good enough for Israel, should be sufficient for Taiwan.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Suck it, China.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

By the end of the week, half of Congress and 90% of the State Dept. will have been on the phone apologizing to China.

[rmlew]

Will we actually allow the ROC to have 300-600 AMRAAMs or will we be holding the weapons with a promise of shipping these?

[ezsmoke]

How about some more ships also. Those decom Ticonderogas should go to Taiwan.

[Republican Party Reptile]

... maybe not ... ?

http://www.washtimes.com/national/inring.htm

Inside the Ring
By Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published September 1, 2006

---

Punishing Taiwan

Pentagon officials tell us President Bush has been advised to deny new sales of F-16 jets to Taiwan.

The advice is said to have originated from White House National Security Council (NSC) staff, who convinced the president not to approve new F-16 sales to Taiwan to avoid upsetting China. It would also signal disapproval with Taipei for its failure to procure submarines, surveillance aircraft and missile defenses offered for sale since 2001.

The official response we received from NSC spokesman Frederick Jones is that: "We have not to date received a request from the Taiwan Government for F-16s. If we do, it will be considered in keeping with our Taiwan Relations Act commitments."

Other officials tell us what really happened is that Taiwan's chief representative to the United States, David Tawei Lee, was told privately that now is not the time to submit a request for F-16s, to avoid the negative publicity of turning it down. Mr. Lee is close to the acting NSC Asia director, Dennis Wilder.

News of the rejection will be greeted with toasts in Beijing as a great propaganda victory, and another example of how China uses its influence over U.S. academics, policy-makers and intelligence officials to skew U.S. policy. Chinese military officials recently pressed the Bush administration and the Pentagon to halt all arms sales to rival Taiwan.

Taiwan's government confirmed earlier this week that it plans to buy up to 66 new F-16C/D models to replace F-5s. The deal was estimated to be worth $3.1 billion.
Press reports from Taiwan also stated that the Bush administration has rejected a request from Taipei to allow Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian to make a transit stop on the U.S. territory of Guam during an upcoming South Pacific visit.

The snub on Guam follows a visit to the island by several Chinese military officials who were given a tour of Guam, a major hub for the U.S. military buildup in Asia, during a recent military exercise.