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U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE WILL NOT AFFECT ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN: EXPERT

ROC Central News Agency

2007-07-18 20:35:49

    Washington, July 17 (CNA) The results of the U.S. presidential election are not expected to significantly affect the U.S. government's arms sales policy toward Taiwan, a think tank scholar said Tuesday.

    Michael D. Swaine, a senior researcher of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), made the remarks in an interview with reporters after attending a CEIP-sponsored seminar on China's military modernization and Taiwan's security.

    The latest edition of Defense News, a U.S. weekly, indicates that Taiwan has reiterated its desire to order U.S.-made F-16 C/D fighter jets but is now facing an obstacle in striking a deal with the U.S. government. The reports quoted U.S. sources as saying the Bush administration is likely to approve the sale after the U.S. presidential election in November 2008 and that should the Democratic Party win, it will be less sympathetic toward Taiwan.

    Nevertheless, Swaine said, no matter which party comes to power, the U.S. arms sales policy toward Taiwan will be consistent in supplying Taiwan with sufficient defensive weapons, adding that the next president will not be against the policy.

    Swaine also said the U.S. government is not expected to link its sales of F-16s to President Chen Shui-bian's plan to push for a referendum on Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations under the name of Taiwan alongside the country's 2008 presidential election.

    In response to Chen's plan unveiled in mid-June, U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that "the United States opposes any initiative that appears designed to change Taiwan's status unilaterally. This would include a referendum on whether to apply to the United Nations under the name of 'Taiwan.'"

    McCormack stressed that in line with its "one China" policy, the United States does not support Taiwan's membership in international organizations that require statehood, including the United Nations.

(By Michelle Tsai and Luis Huang)

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