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U.S. firm on arms sales to Taiwan: AIT chairman

ROC Central News Agency

2010/06/04 13:59:40

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) The United States remains firm on its policy for selling defensive weapons to Taiwan under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) , American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt said Friday.

U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are vitally important in terms of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and the U.S. will not deviate from this stance on the basis of the 30-year- old TRA, Burghardt said while briefing President Ma Ying-jeou at the Presidential Office on the recent U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. This has been a never-rescinded promise and obligation of the U.S. to Taiwan over the past 30 years, he said, explaining that he communication channels remain smooth between the two countries and that they will immediately contact each other should the need arise. Ma for his part urged the U.S. to consider selling F-16C/D jet fighters to Taiwan to help the country phase out its aging fleet of fighters and beef up its defenses.

Taiwan requested in 2006 to buy 66 F-16 C/Ds to supplement its aging IDF jet fighters and French-made Mirage 2000s, but Washington has not given a clear reply to date.

Touching on his recent controversial remarks that he will not ask the U.S. to fight for Taiwan, Ma reiterated that he made them simply to underscore to the entire world Taiwan's resolve to defend itself in line with the TRA.

On the prospects for cross-Taiwan Strait relations, the president said the goal of clinching a Taiwan-China economic cooperation framework agreement in June remains unchanged, and he also called on the U.S. to quickly sign an extradition agreement with Taiwan.

"A similar Taiwan-China judicial assistance accord has helped bring several Taiwanese fugitives back to Taiwan," he noted.

Burghardt, the top U.S. liaison official responsible for two-way dealings with Taiwan, arrived in Taiwan June 2 for a six-day visit. (By Garfie Lee and Flor Wang) ENDITEM/J