Taiwan to Lower Budget for F-16 Fighter Jets

Associated Press ^ | June 14, 2011

[sukhoi-30mki]

Taiwan to Lower Budget for F-16 Fighter Jets

TAIPEI, Taiwan June 14, 2011 (AP)

Taiwan to Lower Budget for F-16 Fighter Jets

Taiwan's Defense Ministry has decided to slash the budget next year for procuring advanced F-16 C/D fighters jets from the U.S., a spokesman said Tuesday but added that Taipei remains determined to purchase the planes.

The statement by Luo Shou-he followed a long delay in a U.S. decision on the sale as the Obama administration is reluctant to enrage China while it seeks Beijing's cooperation on various international economic and security issues.

The move also reinforced the mixed signals sent out by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou about his government's willingness to bolster Taiwan's defenses while pursuing close China ties.

Ma has often said Taiwan can ill afford an arms race with an increasingly deep-pocketed Beijing, and his government recently postponed the procurement of two U.S. weapon systems due to what a ruling Nationalist lawmaker describes as lack of defense budget.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Luo said his ministry can adjust the budget once Washington approves the deal without offering an exact number on the size of the budget reduction.

"As the U.S. still has not reached a decision on the sale, we will lower the budget next year so our limited defense budget can be used somewhere else," Luo said. "Our firm commitment to procure the weapons remains unaffected."

Taiwan's mass circulation Liberty Times reported Monday the budget for F-16s will shrink

[snowrip]

as the Obama administration is reluctant to enrage China while it seeks Beijing's cooperation on various international economic and security issues begs Beijing for more money to spend on bread and circuses for the idiot class, in the hope that Obama can get reelected.

Fixed it.

[Tainan]

Ahh...the Taiwanese mind at work.....

The move also reinforced the mixed signals

Taiwan's Defense Ministry has decided to slash the budget next year for procuring advanced F-16 C/D fighters jets from the U.S., but added that Taipei remains determined to purchase the planes.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Luo said his ministry can adjust the budget once Washington approves the deal without offering an exact number on the size of the budget reduction.

we will lower the budget next year so our limited defense budget can be used somewhere else," Luo said. "Our firm commitment to procure the weapons remains unaffected."
Taiwan's mass circulation Liberty Times reported Monday the budget for F-16s will shrink

They're just stalling in hopes the U.S. will cave in and give them the planes and technology for free....its all about "face."

[James C. Bennett]

Guns before butter.

[Tainan]

We get butter from New Zealand...salted & unsalted.

But I left my guns in the U.S.A.