Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Obama forfeits respect in Asia by letting Taiwan down – hard
The Christian Science Monitor ^ | August 17, 2011 | Julian Baum

Posted on 08/17/2011 9:34:48 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Obama forfeits respect in Asia by letting Taiwan down – hard

Vice President Biden is expected to apprise China of the US decision to deny F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. The dire implications of this should not be played down. It leaves Taiwan vulnerable and the US underpowered in Asia, as Washington looks to be walking away from democratic values

Andover, Mass.

Over the past three decades, Taiwan has been in many tight spots in mounting a credible defense against the People’s Republic of China. Yet none has been as uncomfortable as now.

The island republic is staring into a very near future when it can no longer defend its own airspace, and when deterrence across the Taiwan Strait morphs into military dominance by China.

The trends would be less worrying if the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 were taken more seriously in Washington. But the US role as guarantor of Taiwan’s ability to defend itself under the law is under steady assault, both from within the American bureaucracy and foreign policy community and from furious lobbying by Beijing.

RELATED PHOTO GALLERY: China's military muscle

For its part, Taipei has gone public in recent months as it became more doubtful that the Obama administration would accept their most urgent arms request, the purchase of new F-16 C/D jet fighters.

But its pleas are being ignored, despite the backing of the US Congress. Each house of Congress has sent letters to President Obama signed by nearly half of the elected representatives from both political parties. The letters urge him to follow through with the weapons sale.

The crisis has been long in coming. Taiwan has been trying to acquire the newer C/D version of the F-16 since 2006, along with upgrades to its older F-16 A/B models and more sophisticated radar

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; f16; obama; taiwan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last
To: sukhoi-30mki

This is merely Obama paying off the ChiComs so they will continue to buy our debt. If a few million Taiwanese die and/or become enslaved as a result, well, that’s just the cost of doing business...


21 posted on 08/17/2011 10:34:39 AM PDT by justanotherdayinparadise (No tagline yet, I've just started...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FortWorthPatriot
That SOB is really pissing me off right now. I want to know his rationale for denying Taiwan the fighters after Congress has requested in writing for him to follow through on the deal. Who the hell does he think he is?!?

Exactly. What are this administration's specific reasons for this decision?

I cannot even stand to look at this big-eared menace anymore. When I see him on TV I am filled with rage and anger. I have to switch the channel. I just can't take anymore of this Kenyan flim-flam man's condescending BS anymore.

22 posted on 08/17/2011 11:01:29 AM PDT by One_American
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sanjuanbob

Agree. Found this article:

“...At the end of May, Lockheed had 62 unfilled F-16 orders — enough to keep the final assembly line open only through mid-2013. Production of many parts and components often begins two or more years before final assembly.

About 2,000 workers are directly employed by Lockheed in Fort Worth on the F-16 program and many more at companies in the region that manufacture or supply structural parts and other key components...”

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/13/3220021/three-middle-east-nations-considering.html


23 posted on 08/17/2011 11:30:10 AM PDT by luckybogey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: RadiationRomeo

Or more likely, China directed obama to agree to this deal. biden is the delivery boy.


24 posted on 08/17/2011 11:48:09 AM PDT by Texas resident (Hunkered Down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: sukhoi-30mki

Our friends are Obama’s enemies and our enemmies are his best friends. We are going to pay for what we have done in putting an African Marxist in the White House.


25 posted on 08/17/2011 1:29:53 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson