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2011 U.S. arms sales to Taiwan match levels of past years: AIT chair

ROC Central News Agency

2011/09/21 12:44:29

By Tony Liao and Sofia Wu

Richmond, Virginia, Sept. 20 (CNA) The quantity and composition of weapons to be sold by the United States to Taiwan in 2011 will not fall below the levels of previous years, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt said Tuesday.

Burghardt said this year's arms sales package would be as reported in the New York Times, which put its price tag at US$5.85 billion.

Earlier reports said the U.S. would agree to sell Taiwan US$4.2 billion in weapons this year, but later reports said the number of items to be sold to Taiwan in 2011 would exceed the original projection because other equipment, such as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), would be included.

Moreover, the reports said the F-16 A/B fighter jet engines that were deemed no longer suitable would also be replaced, driving this year's U.S. arms sales to nearly US$6 billion, close to the previous annual ceiling.

Burghardt said after attending an annual U.S.-Taiwan defense industry conference that the United States has made a decision on Taiwan's arms acquisition request, and described it as a move that would have a positive impact on bilateral relations.

He also said the U.S. approval of a package to upgrade Taiwan's existing F-16 A/B fleet did not mean there was no longer any opportunity to sell Taiwan the more advanced F-16 C/D fighters it wants in the future.

The decision not to sell the F-16 C/Ds was received with considerable disappointment in Taiwan, but Burghardt said arms deals involved complicated issues and were only one part of U.S.-Taiwan engagements.

He said the Obama administration was even more supportive of arms sales than the previous administration, with the total value of arms packages approved since Obama took office exceeding the amount recorded during George W. Bush's eight years as president.

Burghardt further explained that most of the F-16 A/B retrofit project would be carried out in Taiwan, which he said would create a lot of jobs in Taiwan and improve its employment outlook.

Meanwhile, the top U.S. liaison officer with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties confirmed that the U.S government will grant Taiwanese citizens visa waiver privileges soon, which he said will symbolize further consolidation of bilaterial ties.