金美欧和韩国金美欧:US may announce decision on Taiwan F

来源：百度文库 编辑：九乡新闻网 时间：2024/04/28 00:09:26

US may announce decision on Taiwan F-16s in September

21.jpg (58.59 KB)
2011-7-10 13:55
File photo of Taiwan's F-16 A/B



The United States had agreed in principle last year to help Taiwan improve its fleet of F-16 jet fighters and may make its decision public in September, according to sources in Washington.

The sources said many political analysts had expected Washington to disclose its decision last November, but were disappointed as the government put it on hold to accommodate the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao in January this year.

However, the sources said, September should be a good time to make the announcement and could be the only window this year because US Vice President Joseph Biden would have returned from his Aug. 17 trip to China and the period is two months before Hu Jintao's visit to Hawaii for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Most importantly, the sources said the US government will have to come up with its assessment of Taiwan's air defenses in September, which would justify its decision to help Taiwan with its air defense and preempt Congress's calls for the sale of advanced F-16C/D jet fighters to Taiwan.

As Washington had promised Taiwan in 1982 that it would not hold prior consultation with China over its arms sales to Taiwan, the sources predicted that Biden and other senior US officials, during their talks with their Chinese counterparts, may explain to Beijing the US stance on arms sales to Taiwan but will not discuss with Chinese officials the details of the packages.

As for Taiwan's request for F-16C/D fighters, the sources said the US has not yet given the green light.

Meanwhile the New York-based Chinese-language DuoWei News, quoting senior US officials, said that Biden will explain to Beijing the US decision to help Taiwan advance the capacity of its existing fleet of F-16A/Bs and promise not to grant Taiwan's request for F-16C/Ds in the near future.

The project to upgrade Taiwan's 146 F-16A/Bs at a price of US$4.5 billion is sure to draw flak from Beijing and disturb Washington's ties with China.



67.bmp (445 KB)
2011-7-10 15:18
Washington is likely to upgrade Taiwan's fleet of F-16A/B fighters but hold off on the sale of the advanced C/D variants, sources believe.



DuoWei News quoted political observers in Washington as saying that September would be a good time to announce the decision as there are three months to go before the presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan and it will not be viewed as an attempt by Washington to influence the elections.

It would also be at least three months before China Vice President Xi Jinping visits Washington. Xi is expected to visit the United States before the US presidential election to boost Obama's campaign for a second term. For all the difficulties Beijing has had in dealing with Obama, China's government still prefers him over the other candidates.

As any arms sales to Taiwan will damage US ties with China, Washington will minimize the impact by announcing the decision to help upgrade Taiwan's jet fighters only.

China is particularly opposed to the sale of F-16C/Ds dues to the models' increased range and payload, which they fear could be used in a strike on the mainland.

The move to upgrade the F-16A/B combat aircraft rather than sell the island the more advanced F-16C/Ds it wants will generate less pressure from Beijing, which strongly opposes any arms sales to Taiwan, analysts say.


'This will be a compromise deal,' Lin Yu-fang - the convenor of parliament's defence committee, who has twice visited Washington in the past two years to handle arms deals.


Taiwan has repeatedly pressed the United States to sell it F-16 C/Ds, as China embarks on a rapid drive to build up its  military capability.


But such a sale would ignite anger from Beijing, which reacted furiously in January 2010 when the Barack Obama administration announced a US$6.4 billion (S$7.8 billion) arms package for the self-governing island.


That package included Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and equipment for Taiwan's F-16 fleet, but no submarines or new fighter jets.


The Straits Times/Wantchinatimes
US may announce decision on Taiwan F Taiwan may delay buying arms from US? - Focus... US Fed chair may face tough sell on quantitat... US worries about its F-16 sale to Taiwan US-Taiwan binds China firmly opposes US sales of F-16s to Taiwan US: Abandon Taiwan or not? Dilemma for US in its Taiwan Policy US: No Formal Commitment To Defend Taiwan 'No new US jets for Taiwan' China condemns US arms sales to Taiwan US ties strained by Taiwan arms sales US should abolish 'Taiwan Relations Act' Taiwan arms sales becomes US political spell Obama opts for upgrading Taiwan's F Taiwan seeks US arms sales through Han Kuang ... Arms sale to Taiwan no longer US 'trump card'... US weapon sales to Taiwan hurt Chinese feelin... Happy May Day ! - Focus discussion - People F... China may face greater terror threat than US Taiwan eyes cross-strait military trust first...Taiwan focuses on cross-strait military trust US views on China are mixed US views on China are mixed[] Caution!! US is on the big move!!