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Updated Wednesday, August 17, 2011 11:42 pm TWN, By Joseph Yeh,The China Post with CNA

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Taiwan maintains bid for new F-16 fighter jets: Ma

Despite a recent report that the United States has decided not to sell Taiwan F-16C/D fighters, President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday reiterated his long-running stance that the country will continue its efforts to acquire the jet planes and other weaponry including diesel-powered submarines from the U.S.

Ma said that the proposed procurement is not intended to increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait but to allow for gradual replacement of aging equipment.

The requested items are all defensive weapons that Taiwan lacks the capacity to produce by itself.

This is in line with the Taiwan Relations Act, which obliges the American government to provide Taiwan with the arms it needs to defend itself, he added.

He stressed that the government will not relax the country's defense readiness despite the warming cross-strait relations.

Ma raised the issue during a promotion ceremony for senior military personnel yesterday in the Presidential Office Building in Taipei.

The U.S.-based Defense News magazine reported on Sunday, Aug. 14 that Washington has denied Taiwan's request for 66 new F-16C/D fighter aircrafts and instead will help the nation to upgrade its existing F-16A/Bs.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. Embassy in the country, refuted the report.

The MND claimed it has not received such information from Washington while the AIT said no decision has been made.

When asked to comment on the topic, Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Yang (楊念祖) said yesterday that the report was “ungrounded.”

“We have not received a formal letter (regarding arm sales) from the U.S. so far,” Yang said.

Taiwan's deputy representative in U.S., Jacob Chang (張大同), also said the country is still actively asking the American government to approve its sale on defensive weapons that can boost the country's self-defense capability.

Blame Game Continues

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers yesterday said the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) administration should be held responsible for its inability to acquire the jets if the U.S. ultimately decides to deny Taiwan's request.

The KMT's continuous blockage of defense budgets submitted to the Legislative Yuan during the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government would be to blame for a denial of the F-16s, DPP legislators claimed.

However, KMT lawmaker Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) refuted the opposition party's accusations. Lin also said he believes that the U.S. will not make its final decision regarding the F-16 sale until its Vice President Joe Biden's scheduled China trip concluded.

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Comments

August 17, 2011 sherazbd@

From the very beginning Taiwan is mostly familiar as a peaceful nation in the world. She has already made a lot of struggle for her national defense and safety. Taiwan has a strong tie with USA for her national defense and economics. She has managed hundreds of F-16 and others air crafts from us and now they must try to gain latest technology from western world for her future generations. (A primary school teacher from Bangladesh)

August 22, 2011 debkajon@

Denying advanced F-16s is something I've never expected the USA to do to a fellow democratic and a developed society like Taiwan. Taiwan needs these planes to safeguard its skies from Chinese attacks in near future and also thwart off any Chinese ambitions over Taiwan Straits in the future. I think bidding for the F-16 is of no use as the most advanced variant is actually sponsored and funded by UAE and it might refuse the sale of such weaponry to Taiwan as China might raise it voice over such moves by USA and UAE. Taiwan should instead bid directly for the F-35 as Israel and Singapore did, or in fact threaten USA that any denials of 5th Gen aircraft to Taipei would mean orders for the RAFALE or the Euro-fighter which means loss of 10s of billions of dollars denied for the US defense industry. The USA might certainly allow the F-35 to be exported to Taipei in this very case.

August 23, 2011 huyseng@

WASTE of tax payers money.......buying old antiquated junk.

August 25, 2011 Debkajon@

huyseng@ wrote:
WASTE of tax payers money.......buying old antiquated junk.

@huyseng - well said!! F-16s are waste of taxpayers’ money- we in India have already rejected that and now the Americans came with the offer of F-35!! I think Taiwan should hope for the same. Or else - there's the now famed Euro-fighter from Britain or Germany. They are brand new from Tranche 3 and will come with new Cruise missiles and also stand-off weapons. Isn't that cool??? China will suffer badly if it ever tries to come against the Euro fighter in a war.

September 1, 2011 debkajon@

http://www.defence-update.net/wordpress/tag/f-16iq

I want all you Taiwanese to seriously look at this Israeli defense website article, which says F-16s are being offered to former adversary Iraq - a block 52 version called F-16E/F (F-16 IQ). Imagine the USA under president Obama has taken the wrong path of offering advanced weapons to wild and unreliable nations in the Middle East and not to one of the most highly developed nations like Taiwan, thereby saddening all hopes of a credible determent form the communist behemoth. Taiwan should hit the last nail and Buy the Eurofighter or the French Rafale, which Nicolas Sarkozy might be very happy to offer to Taipei since he lost to Libya and UAE's contracts. Both are among the best and they also come equally with more than enough features to silence China for at least next 25 years!!