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Notification of U.S. arms package details yet to be received: MND

ROC Central News Agency

2011/09/21 14:11:29

By Elaine Hou

Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) Taiwan has yet to receive a detailed notification of the content of the arms package the United States is willing to sell it, Deputy Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang said Wednesday, and he also refused to confirm the value of the sale.

A New York Times report, confirmed by American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt, estimated that the package will be worth US$5.85 billion and consist mainly of upgrades to Taiwan's fleet of F-16 A/B fighters.

But when asked for details on the sale, Chao would not confirm the sale's value or content.

"We have not received formal notification from the United States yet, so we cannot comment on that," Chao said on the sidelines of a defense conference held by National Defense University and National Chengchi University in Taipei.

If the U.S. approves upgrades to Taiwan's existing F-16A/B jets, "the result would be welcomed," Chao said, as it would help enhance the country's defense capabilities.

Taiwan will also continue to push for the sale of more advanced U.S.-made F-16C/Ds, as well as diesel-electric submarines, if they are not included in the latest sale, he added.

The latest U.S. arms sale to Taiwan is set to be announced later this week at the earliest, according to sources familiar with the matter.