President urges U.S. to sell Taiwan F-16 C/D fighters
ROC Central News Agency
2011/01/25 13:03:17
Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday the United States should sell Taiwan advanced F-16 C/D jet fighters because the existing military imbalance across the Taiwan Strait could impede the further development of cross-strait relations.
In a meeting with American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt, Ma said U.S. President Barack Obama's recent recognition of progress in Taiwan-China ties was encouraging, but he warned that the growing military imbalance across the Taiwan Strait could dampen future engagements.
He said the growing gap in military power has become a common concern of Taiwan's people and hoped that the U.S. would help Taiwan fortify its arsenal.
"We have long hoped to acquire F-16 C/Ds and diesel-electric submarines, " Ma told Burghardt, Washington's top liaison with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
The purpose of Taiwan's weapons acquisition plans was not to pursue a military buildup but rather to replace aging aircraft and submarine fleets, Ma stressed, adding that the military imbalance would be a detriment to cross-strait ties and regional stability.
Ma said he was very appreciative that the U.S. has engaged Taiwan in such a friendly manner, referring to Burghardt's arrival in Taipei to brief Ma on talks between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao so soon after Hu's visit to Washington from Jan. 18 to Jan. 21.
He also expressed admiration and gratitude for Obama's reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to abide by the Taiwan Relations Act at a news conference held after his meeting with Hu.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also made a similar reaffirmation in a speech delivered on Jan. 14.
In her speech, Clinton also lauded the signing of the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and expressed the hope that the two sides will engage more in other fields.
"All these were encouraging developments for Taiwan, " Ma said, adding that his administration's efforts to improve cross-strait relations were aimed at maintaining regional peace and stability.
Ma recalled that when the U.S. approved arms sales to Taiwan in January and August last year, it stressed that the sales were in line with the regulations of the Taiwan Relations Act.
The U.S. also stressed on those occasions that it had not discussed them with China prior to approving them.
The move indicates that the U.S. had adhered to its "Six Assurances" to Taiwan, Ma said.
The Taiwan Relations Act is a U.S. law that regulates relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, while the "six assurances" refer to six promises the U.S. made to Taiwan during negotiations with China in 1982 on the third U.S.-China joint communique.
The "six assurances" are that the United States will not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan; will not alter the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act; will not consult with China in advance before making decisions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan; will not mediate between Taiwan and China; will not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan; and will not alter its position that Taiwan's sovereignty should be decided peacefully by the people of Taiwan and China. (By Garfie Li and Sofia Wu) enditem/ls
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