Taiwan eying acquisition of F-35 fighters: deputy defense minister

Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 18 (CNA) Taiwan would be pleased if the United States has indeed agreed to help upgrade its fleet of F-16 A/B jet fighters, and plans to move toward procuring the even more sophisticated F-35 model in the future, Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Yang said in Richmond Sunday.

"The retrofit of the F-16 A/B fleet is part of Taiwan's national defense policy. It would be great if the U.S. approves the deal," said Yang on the sidelines of the 2011 U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference, at which he is leading a Taiwanese delegation.

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has reportedly decided to sell Taiwan a US$4.2 billion arms package that would include an upgrade to Taiwan's F-16 A/B fleet, but not the more advanced F-16 C/D fighters Taiwan is eager to acquire.

An Associated Press report cited two congressional aides as saying that the U.S. State Department gave a briefing on Capitol Hill on its decision Friday, but has yet to issue a formal notification of the intended sale. An announcement on the sale is expected by the end of this month, the AP report said.

Yang said Taiwan and the U.S. have consistently addressed security issues in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act -- the U.S. law that regulates engagements with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

"Arms procurements should follow the prescribed procedures," Yang said, adding that the U.S. decision to offer Taiwan the F-16 A/B upgrade package might not necessarily imply it had rejected the F-16 C/D deal.

Noting that the F-16 A/B retrofit and the F-16 C/D procurement are two separate matters, Yang said that Taiwan had not received any formal notification that the U.S. had decided against the F-16 C/D deal.

The F-16 A/B is a high-performance fighter jet with all sorts of combat equipment and functions and the fleet would be able to perform even better after a mid-life upgrade, according to Yang.

Asked whether a possible setback in the attempt to buy F-16 C/Ds reflected a U.S. change in its policy toward Taiwan following its increasing leaning toward Beijing in recent years, Yang said he did not think that the U.S. would take sides.

The Taiwan government remains confident of U.S. neutrality in dealing with cross-Taiwan Strait issues, he said.

As to whether Taiwan would procure a new generation of U.S.-built fighters jets such as the F-35, Yang said Taiwan would definitely move in that direction.

Any arms deal will be based on Taiwan's defense needs and ultimate goals as well as Washington's assessment of the overall situation, Yang said.

"For our part, we would not pass up any available options," the deputy defense minister said.

Yang is scheduled to meet with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. after the defense industry conference ends. (By Chou Yung-chieh and Sofia Wu) enditem /pc

As much as I’d like to see Taiwan get them (F35s), or even the newer F16s they wanted, I doubt it will happen unless and until we get an administration that isn’t cowering and kneeling before the dragon.

2 posted on 09/19/2011 9:09:29 AM PDT by SZonian (July 27, 2010. Life begins anew.)

Any arms deal will be based on Taiwan's defense needs and ultimate goals as well as Washington's assessment of the overall situation, Yang said.

Will the mainland Chinese lend the US the money to finance Fighter Jets for the Taiwanese? Interesting!

3 posted on 09/19/2011 9:11:34 AM PDT by Calusa (The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles. Quoth Bob Dylan.)

Don't be fools. The US, unless there is a radical shift in management, will never approve F-35s for the Republic of China. They need to talk to other providers, like France, Sweden or Russia.

One little shake of the ChiCom wallet and the Nationalist Chinese won't even be able to buy some surplus P-40's.

5 posted on 09/19/2011 9:20:14 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Compare "Delay is preferable to error" - Thomas Jefferson // "Pass this bill now!" - Barack Obama)

Ha!
They’ve been trying to buy F-16’s for over 20 years, and that hasn’t happened!
If Taiwan is still around in 40 years, they may get the F-35 then.....well....if Obama hasn’t destroyed America in the meantime.....

6 posted on 09/19/2011 9:44:41 AM PDT by G Larry (I dream of a day when a man is judged by the content of his character)

Taiwan can forget about the F35 as long as Obama has control of the reigns of our government.He’s not allowing them to buy New F16 D’s.Why would they expect him to approve the sale of the F35.They may as well as hope for the F22.

7 posted on 09/19/2011 9:45:08 AM PDT by puppypusher (The World is going to the dogs.)

One sure way that Taiwan could get the latest US military hardware (from Obama or any Democrat successor) — surrender to the PRC, then the US will allow you to steal it so you can produce it yourself!

8 posted on 09/19/2011 10:20:00 AM PDT by Tallguy (You can safely ignore anything that precedes the word "But"...)

Obama should’ve sold them the F-16s.

9 posted on 09/19/2011 10:39:52 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Will racist demagogue Andre Carson be censured by the House?)

The Obama admin refuses to sell Taiwan the F-16 block 60, so they aren’t getting F-35s. However, as a negotiating stance, it makes sense. It makes the sale of the F-16 block 60 less threatening to China.

10 posted on 09/19/2011 10:51:21 AM PDT by rmlew ("Mosques are our barracks, minarets our bayonets, domes our helmets, the believers our soldiers.")

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