F-16 Ping.
Posted on 03/14/2009 5:15:50 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The U.S. government has declined to make a long-awaited sale of block 52 F-16s to Taiwan for fear of upsetting China.
The White House blocked the $4.9 billion deal for 66 advanced F-16s last year and there was little hope of it being revived this year.
It's seems the United States doesn't want to give them to Taiwan, mainly because mainland China would oppose the sale.
In 2006 the U.S. had already blocked the sale to Taiwan of 66 F-16C/D block52s after the island's parliament repeatedly failed to approve funds for an earlier arms package.
Then in July 2008, the Financial Times reported Taiwan from its side had abandoned its interest in purchasing 66 F-16s from the US in an attempt to rescue a larger arms package sale before President Bush leaves the White House.
China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island.
Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary, and opposes all U.S. arms sales to the island. Washington recognizes China diplomatically and is seeking to improve relations with the Asian economic powerhouse.
Although China-Taiwan ties have improved since President Ma Ying-jeou took office on the island last year, deep military distrust lingers between the two sides.
Taiwan first asked to buy new F-16s in 2007 after approving substantial funding for the aircraft. The new planes are aimed at replacing the ageing fleet of 60 Taiwanese F-5 aircraft who are serving for almost 30 years now.
The U.S. Pacific Command said in July that U.S. policymakers saw no pressing need to sell advanced arms to Taiwan.
That’s what trillions of debt bought China.
Ping
This is a twofer - Lose/Upset an Ally and Lose the Sales of jets.
F-16 Ping.
Nice.
Sticking a knife right in the back of an ally, Democracy and friend.
Could well be with THIS administration....
The CHICOM's won't have to fire one shot. They'll just "buy us" out of power. Sad.
It’s just another test that Zero has failed.
China expressing doubts about the security of the U.S. debt its carrying - days later it’s announced that we won’t be selling F-16s to Taiwan. This surely must be pure coincidence.
Words, just words?
Well, the communists ARE our bankers, after all. How's THAT for irony? The communists are the bankers for the capitalists. What a world.
Well this development comes as no surprise.
Comrade 0bama is utterly ignorant, he probably thinks Chiang Kai-Shek is the guy that makes General Tso’s chicken.
I agree - It is turned completely upside down in almost every facet of contemporary Society. Sometimes I feel either too old, crazy or ignorant.
I feel this way until I realize that, as is most certainly the case, the inmates have taken control of the Asylum.
The sale of these jets could have stimulated the economy and saved/created jobs for real—not the smoke and mirrors of the “stimulus” bill.
The F-16 as a flying platform is almost 33 years old.
We should sell the jets, and tell the Reds, well this is how we generate the income with which to pay back your loans.
It’s called capitalism.
Taiwan already owns and operates block 15 F-16’s.
The upgrade to block 52 F-16’s would greatly improve TAF capabilities.
It won’t be long now.
One more for the list.
Bought = brought.
I wonder if Taiwan will still be a sovereign (outside the un) nation in 2012.
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