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Taiwan new reppresentative to U.S. downplays arms sale issue

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) Taiwan's new representative to the United States, Jason Yuan, said Tuesday that he was not aware of any U.S. government decision to freeze major arms sales to Taiwan, adding that his top mission is to amend Taiwan-US relations.

He made the remarks in response to reporters' questions on why the U.S. appears unlikely to proceed with approval of a US$11 billion arms package.

The weapons package includes Patriot antimissile systems and attack helicopters. Those arms were among those offered to Taiwan by US President George W. Bush after he took office in 2001, and were approved last December by Taiwan's legislature after a long delay.

However, the Bush administration has not yet notified the U.S. Congress of the arms sales, a step required before the weapons can be released to Taiwan.

The Bush administration has also declined to process a separate request for F-16 C/D fighter jets.

"Much speculation and rumors arise when people don't know the detailed situation, especially since arms sales are very sensitive issues, " said Yuan after he was formally sworn in as Taiwan de facto ambassador to the U.S.

He said he had not heard anything about a freeze of arms sales to Taiwan from either U.S. administration or Congressional sources.

"I suspect the speculation results from the fact that some of our friends are getting impatient, as they have not seen any progress, " Yuan said. "In fact, I think everyone will see the results pretty soon."

He said that judging from his contacts with the Bush administration, he did not believe that the weapons package was frozen.

Some analysts believe that if the Bush administration freezes arms sales to Taiwan, it could be more difficult for the new administration, either under Republican party presidential candidate John McCain or his Democratic rival Barack Obama, to release the arms packages to Taiwan.

In a daily press briefing on July 18, when asked whether the U.S. has changed its position regarding arms sales to Taiwan, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack replied "the short answer is 'No.'"

He reiterated that the Bush administration faithfully implements the Taiwan Relations Act, under which the United States makes available items necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient defense.

"There is an internal interagency process for the United States government to consider all military exports, including sales to Taiwan, " McCormack said. "When the interagency process achieves a final decision for specific arms sales, we will notify congress. We do not comment on specific weapons systems under consideration." (By Rachel Chan) Enditem /JA