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President reiterates call for U.S. to sell Taiwan F-16 C/Ds

ROC Central News Agency

2010/11/08 16:43:20

By Garfie Li and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Nov. 8 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou on Monday welcomed the friendship toward Taiwan shown by visiting American congressman Elton Gallegly and made another pitch for help in getting Washington to sell Taiwan advanced F16C/D jet fighters.

In a meeting with Gallegly at the Presidential Office, Ma said he was moved by the Republican representative's visit to Taiwan so soon after winning re-election to the House of Representatives last Tuesday, seeing it as a sign of the Californian's deep friendship and concern for the country.

Gallegly, who currently serves as ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Europe of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, arrived in Taiwan Nov. 5 for a week-long visit.

During the meeting, Ma discussed his administration's efforts to warm long-frozen cross-Taiwan Strait relations and the results of the efforts. He also spoke of the importance he attached to Taiwan-U.S. ties.

The president described bilateral links between the two countries as solid, noting that Taiwan and U.S. are expected to hold talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement by the end of the year for the first time since July 2007.

Ma also reiterated Taiwan's desire to purchase F-16 C/D fighters to maintain the country's defense capabilities and expressed the hope that Taiwan could be included in the U.S's visa waiver program and sign an extradition agreement with Washington.