Taiwan rejects charge of inadequate F-16 lobbying efforts
ROC Central News Agency
2011/07/27 20:28:30
By Emmanuelle Tzeng, Lo Chu-tung and Sofia Wu
Taipei, July 27 (CNA) Taiwan firmly rebutted Wednesday a U.S. newspaper report claiming that it has not lobbied strongly to procure new F-16 C/D fighters or upgrades of its existing jets, dismissing the allegation as unfounded and absolutely untrue.
In a rare move, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued a statement shortly after midnight Tuesday rejecting the Washington Times report that cited an unnamed Pentagon official as accusing Taiwan of not lobbying strongly enough for the F-16 deals.
The MND also reaffirmed in the statement Taiwan's unswerving determination to safeguard its national security.
The ministry further called an impromptu news conference Wednesday to clarify its stance on newspaper report, discounting it as completely baseless and inconsistent with the facts.
According to the Washington Times report published two days earlier, the unidentified Pentagon official said the recent crossing of the Taiwan Strait median line by a Chinese Su-27 jet fighter highlighted the failure of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's detente policies for mainland China.
The Su-27 reportedly crossed the dividing line of the strait that separates Taiwan and China while chasing a U.S. U-2 spy plane June 29 and did not return to Chinese airspace until after two Taiwanese F-16s were scrambled.
Increasing cross-strait commercial flights have made it more difficult for Taiwan's military to monitor airspace in the region, while Ma's conciliatory policies also have not lessened military tension or improved Taiwan's defenses, the Pentagon official told the newspaper.
The official went on to accuse the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States -- Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington -- of having "not lobbied very strongly for new F-16s or upgrades of old jets," according to the Washington Times.
Wang Ming-wo, acting director of the MND's Political Warfare Bureau, rebutted the report at the news conference, stressing that the ministry has spared no efforts in its quest to procure advanced weapons to update and beef up its arsenal.
"This is our firm stance and will never change," Wang reaffirmed.
As for the issue of the F-16 C/Ds, Wang pointed out that Ma has on 21 occasions urged the U.S. government to sell Taiwan the new jets to replace its aging F-5 fleet. The MND and other government departments, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mainland Affairs Council and the Government Information Office, as well as local lawmakers, their U.S. counterparts, and many noted U.S. think tanks have also helped lobby for the deal.
Moreover, Wang continued, Taiwan has three times sent letters of request for the procurement and acquisition of 66 F-16 C/Ds. Those requests are still making their way through the U.S. inter-agency screening process, he said.
In addition, Taiwan has asked the U.S. to help upgrade its existing F-16 A/B jet fighters, Wang said, adding that the U.S. accepted this request in November 2009.
On recent confirmation by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the Obama Administration will make a decision on F-16 sales to Taiwan by Oct. 1, Han Keng-sheng, deputy director of the MND's Department of Strategic Planning, said the ministry is still not sure which type of warplane the U.S. will be willing to sell Taiwan.
However, he stressed that the government has made it clear from the very beginning that F-16 C/Ds and diesel-electric submarines are the top priority items for Taiwan in terms of weapons acquisition.
"F-16 C/Ds top the priority list because we want them to replace our aging F-5 fighters, while the F-16 A/B upgrade deal is aimed at extending the lifespan of these aircraft," Han explained.
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