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Taiwan's plan to buy F16C/D not going well: president

ROC Central News Agency

2011/06/24 21:51:54

By Lee Shu-hua and S.C. Chang

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Taiwan's attempts at buying F16C/D jet fighters from the United States to replace its aging fleet have not been going well, President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday.

Ma made his remarks while receiving Paul D. Wolfowitz, chairman of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council and former deputy secretary of defense, at the Presidential Office.

"We had hoped to send our letter of request (for the purchase) to the U.S., but the U.S. has all along been unwilling to accept it, and has even hinted that we should not make such a request," Ma said.

Although Taiwan has over the past several years obtained several weapons systems that it asked for, the country has also desired to replace its aging F5 fleet with F16C/Ds. But "the process has not been going well," he told Wolfowitz.

He said he knew selling F16C/Ds to Taiwan is a sensitive issue for America, but the newer-model fighters are an indispensable tool for Taiwan's defense because "our existing fleet is indeed quite outdated."

He said he hoped the plan to acquire F16C/Ds could go through so that "we can defend ourselves and contribute to maintaining regional peace as well."

According to Ma, another reason for the acquisition is that Taiwan cannot ignore its national security while improving its ties with mainland China.

He said Taiwan's military procurement policy is based on three guidelines -- to replace the aging weapons, to defend the country, and to obtain weapons that Taiwan cannot make by itself.