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U.S. yet to decide F-16 C/D sales to Taiwan: official

ROC Central News Agency

2011/08/26 17:24:24

By Chou Yung-chieh and Christie Chen

Washington, Aug. 25 (CNA) The United States is still mulling the sale of its advanced F-16 C/D jet fighters to Taiwan and has yet to make a decision, Taiwan's deputy representative to the U.S. said Thursday.

Leo Lee, deputy head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington D.C., said the U.S. government is serious about its promise to Taiwan in the Taiwan Relations Act, and that the door on arms sales "has always been open."

According to the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is obliged to sell arms to Taiwan to help the island defend itself.

On mentioning U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden's recent trip to China, Lee assured reporters that the communications between Taiwan and the U.S. have been smooth over the past three years.

He said the U.S. briefed the representative office about Biden's visit before it was taken, and is planning to hold a briefing for the office again on the concluded trip.

In response to Taiwanese media reports that Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu could attend the 2011 US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Richmond, Virginia, in September to seek arms sales from the U.S., Lee said that has not been determined based on his understanding.