Taipei ends interest in F-16 deal

f-16.net ^ | July 19, 2008 | Asif Shamim

[Jet Jaguar]

The Financial Times reports Taiwan has abandoned its interest in purchasing 66 block 52 F-16s from the US in an attempt to rescue a larger arms package sale before President Bush leaves the White House.

The official said Taipei was no longer pursuing the F-16s, worth $5bn, as there now seemed no chance of success. "We are concentrating on the more basic, less controversial stuff right now," he said.

After coming into office, President Bush had approved an arms package worth $11bn consisting of diesel-electric submarines, anti-submarine aircraft, and Patriot surface-to-air missiles. However Taiwanese government failed to approve the funding necessary to complete the purchase.

The decision to abandon the pursuit of the F-16 block 52 aircraft came after Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of the US Pacific command, confirmed this week for the first time that Washington had frozen arms sales to Taiwan. According to Keating tensions in the region have eased some what and the US administration have said that there is no pressing need for sales of arms to Taiwan at this time.

Taiwan believe the decision to freeze sales may be looked at again after the Olympics games are over. Taiwanese officials believe the US are trying to get China on board in co-operation in tackling trouble in Iran and North Korea. "We hope that once the Olympics are over and things are less politically sensitive for Beijing, things can start moving again. Otherwise it will be too late to get these sales back on track under the current administration," said a senior Taiwan security official.

Beijing officials said this week that the sale freeze had been adopted in accordance to a 1982 joint communiqué under which the US pledged to reduce weapons sales to Taiwan gradually.

[Jet Jaguar]

F-16 Ping.

Please Freepmail me to be added or removed from list.

[Yo-Yo]

If the Taiwanese Parliament had acted in 2004, they could have had the entire $11 billion package. But their own infighting blocked the deal.

[DeOppressoLiber1776]

I wonder if the ROC will be getting the F-35 Lightning II? I could be wrong, but I know the State of Israel is getting several for their participation in the JSF program, perhaps the ROC will be considered as well. (At least if McCain wins, God willing.)

[skinkinthegrass]

yhea..Its seems, Nationals are dropping everything else to buy the arms...quicky.....b/c Obambi, will sell 'em out for sure.

[DoughtyOne]

Fair enough, but it still gauls me that we refuse to help them defend themselves. If we allow China to take this island back by force, then we don’t deserve to have one ally to call our own. Taiwan is a western style democracy. It has a stable government, a productive people and a right to exists free from the mainland’s pressure.

I will say, that I do find it very disturbing to hear things like Taiwan wants to reunify from time to time though.

Taiwan needs to get his priorities straight too. If it can’t what can we do for it.

[Steve Van Doorn]

that is what i was thinking. If the US doesn’t supply it they can buy other planes as well.

[SampleMan]

Fair enough, but it still gauls me that we refuse to help them defend themselves.

I get where you're coming from, but be aware that Taiwan has a history of working up arms deals that they have not intention of buying. They do this to pull China's chain.

It worries me that they haven't taken their own defense very seriously.

[DoughtyOne]

I think that’s a fair observation. I’m not completely up to speed on Taiwan, but it does seem they have left some chips on the table.

[WoofDog123]

“According to Keating tensions in the region have eased some what and the US administration have said that there is no pressing need for sales of arms to Taiwan at this time.”

Hopefully folks can see what tremendous influence China has on US trade and foreign policy when they do have an interest.

In fact, what does china actually want in terms of practical goals that they haven’t gotten?

[Yo-Yo]

One has to wonder if the way China has handled Hong Kong and Shanghi hasn’t influenced Taiwanese thinking. Maybe they think that they can be another “special economic zone” if they reunite with the mainland.

Also, the Hong Kong deal has awakened the average Chinese citizen as to the standard of living in the West, and they want it. As a result, China is becoming the fastest growing country for consumer goods. Once that genie is out of the bottle, the ChiComs will be hard pressed to put it back again.

So reuniting Taiwan with the mainland may happen, and peacefully, in our lifetime.

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

>>>I will say, that I do find it very disturbing to hear things like Taiwan wants to reunify from time to time though.

Taiwan of 2008 is not equal to Taiwan of 1960s

Many Taiwanese that were Chang Kai Shek (sp?) stalwarts now want a peaceful reunification with China.

They smell money and want peace. Many (most?) of their businessmen have businesses there. Their wives might like the concept of standing up to mainland China, but the husbands are too busy and have their hands full.

Overall, I would think that Taiwan’s foreign policy has not been that successful. Those countries that Taiwan has paid to recognize them are now switching over to mainland China, after hints of money and intimidation.

[DoughtyOne]

I don’t disagree with that. It very well could happen.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the comment HALC. At this point I think China would be incredibly stupid to try to military option. Another decade or so and Taiwan will probably cave and beg for reunification.

It sure got rewarded economically for being our friend didn’t it. We threw everything over to the communists and left the democratic nation to kind of decay.

Seems like it to me anyway.