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Legislators received murky message on F-16 fighters in Washington

ROC Central News Agency

2010/07/21 13:07:46
Washington, July 20 (CNA) Ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lin Yu-fang said in Washington, D.C. Tuesday that the "ambiguous message" he has received from United States is that if it could not sell F-16 C/D block fighters to Taiwan for the moment, it would consider upgrading the capability of Taiwan's F-16 A/B aircraft.

Lin, who is heading a delegation of Taiwanese lawmakers on a visit to the U.S. capital, said Washington has not yet decided on Taiwan's request to purchase either F-16 C/D aircraft or diesel-electric submarines.

Though the U.S. has not rejected the aircraft sale, if it could not sell F-16 C/D aircraft to Taiwan in the short term, it would offer alternatives, such as helping Taiwan upgrade its F-16 A/B aircraft, the lawmaker said.

Lin stressed that Taiwan's government has never abandoned its desire to acquire diesel-electric submarines and has, in fact, earmarked funds to acquire them.

Because of the difficulties involved in the design and production process of the submarines, however, Taiwan can decide whether to purchase them only after conducting a feasibility study and evaluating quotations, he said.

Since arriving in Washington, D.C. July 18, the delegation has met with David Shear, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Derek Mitchell, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense in charge of Asian and Pacific security affairs, and several senators and congressmen.

During the meetings, the U.S. officials have expressed support for Taiwan's efforts in seeking international recognition, particularly its bid to join the International Civil Aviation Organization, according to Lin.

He said Taiwan's legislators told the U.S. officials that the recently signed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China is aimed at improving relations between the two sides, and creating a stable, peaceful and prosperous situation across the Taiwan Strait.

They also said it would offer benefits to other countries in East Asia and the United States.

The U.S. officials' reactions to the agreement have been largely positive, Lin said, and none of them have expressed opposition to the ECFA or worried that Taiwan would be overly dependent on China after the ECFA takes effect.

(By Zep Hu and Y.L. Kao)

ENDITEM/ls