Posted on 03/20/2010 7:34:58 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
There is growing pressure on US President Barack Obama to sell advanced F-16 fighters to Taiwan.
“The time to provide these fighters is now,” Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, told a major hearing held by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday.
It became clear as witnesses were questioned that many, if not most, of the commissioners agreed.
Taiwan’s request to buy 66 F-16C/D fighters is now being considered by the White House.
“The military and strategic imperatives for Taiwan are real and urgent,” said Diaz-Balart, the opening witness at the day-long hearing on developments across the Taiwan Strait and their implication for the US. “If we fail to show the necessary resolve, it would mean missing a significant opportunity to ensure peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region — a vital US interest.”
“In addition to being irresponsible, it makes no sense to continue to deny Taiwan modern fighter aircraft. Mainland China will protest anyway. In fact, by protesting so vociferously to the weapons sale announcement on Jan. 29, 2010, the Communist Chinese are seeking to pressure the United States into not selling advanced fighter planes,” he said.
Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, said Taiwan’s move to democracy was “a miracle” and “one of the great achievements of the 20th century.”
Taiwan had “played by the rules” and should be rewarded, he said.
Commissioner Dan Blumenthal said China’s huge military advantage meant that Taiwan was having to conduct negotiations with Beijing while a gun was being pointed at its head.
Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, said a Taiwan that is “strong, confident and free from threats and intimidation” would be best postured to discuss the future with China.
However, he avoided answering Commissioners’ questions about the sale of the F-16s.
(Excerpt) Read more at taipeitimes.com ...
F-16 ping.
Obama can’t sell F-16’s to Taiwan — China owns him. He’s bought and paid for by [the city once known as] PeKing.
export bump
Taiwan is a high tech place. PC's and machine tools are made there. They can figure out how to make fighters too.
I wonder how Obama sounds in Chinese? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ee0wrjVtkk
Of course he could also just through Taiwan under the bus, as he did Iraq. That's the easy answer.
If he does something that will be perceived as negative, he’ll let someone else be the messenger.
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