Arms sale demonstrates U.S. commitment to Taiwan: U.S. official
ROC Central News Agency
2011/09/22 14:22:35
By Tony Liao and Y.F. Low
Washington, Sept. 21 (CNA) The latest sale of a US$5.85 billion arms package to Taiwan demonstrates Washington's unwaivering commitment to sustaining Taiwan's defense capabilities and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, a senior official at the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.
With this sale, the administration of President Barack Obama has sold over US$12 billion in arms to Taiwan in less than two years, said Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.
"This amount is comparable or greater than at any other period in U.S. relations -- unofficial relations -- with Taiwan," Campbell said when asked about the issue during a briefing held at the United Nations on U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Obama administration formally notified Congress of the US$5.85 billion sale earlier that day.
The package includes a retrofit of 145 of Taiwan's F-16 A/B fighter jets, including radars, weapons, structural upgrades, totaling about US$5.3 billion; a five-year extension of F-16 pilot training at Luke Air Force Base in the United States, totaling about US$500 million; and aircraft spare parts for maintenance of Taiwan's F-16s, its existing fleet of F-5s, and C-130 cargo planes, at a total amount of about US$52 million.
The package, however, does not include the new F-16C/D fighters that Taiwan had requested to modernize its arsenal.
Campbell said "no decisions have been made" on selling Taiwan new F-16 C/D aircraft. The U.S. government is aware of Taiwan's request and will continue to examine the issue based on Taiwan's overall defense needs, he said.
He explained that the retrofit program will provide a substantial increase in the survivability, reliability, and overall combat capabilities of Taiwan's F-16 A/B fleet, helping to ensure that Taiwan maintains the capability to protect its airspace, both in peacetime and during any crisis.
"It is our strong view that these sales will make a significant contribution to Taiwan's air defense capabilities because it is upgrading the backbone capability of Taiwan's air force," he added.
He said he was sure that U.S. arms sales contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
In the wake of the latest sale, China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun called in U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke to protest the decision, according to China's state-controlled Xinhua news agency.
Beijing has always been opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
There have been speculations that China might suspend its military relations with the United States in a protest move.
In a separate background briefing on the arms sale, a senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington had informed Beijing of the arms sale decision through Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui after notifying Congress of the deal.
Zhang said Beijing was firmly opposed to the sale and indicated that there would be "consequences," but did not specify, the official said.
"We think that mil-to-mil relationships have improved and that these are in the best interests of both nations and both militaries. And we will be in subsequent conversations, I am sure, with the appropriate authorities in Beijing in terms of the next steps," he said.
Another senior administration official said Washington believes successfully managing disagreement is an essential component of the U.S.-China relationship. That is part of the constructive partnership that Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, have undertaken to sustain, he said.
He further said that the United States, abiding by its six assurances to Taiwan, does not consult with China beforehand about defense sales to Taiwan.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
