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News on F-16V sale not likely until after September: scholars

ROC Central News Agency

2019/07/31 16:36:59

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) A possible announcement on the U.S. granting a Taiwanese request to buy a batch of F-16V fighter jets is not likely to be made until after September after the U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess, two Taiwanese scholars said Wednesday.

The scholars made the remarks when asked to comment on a New York Times' report Tuesday that quoted lawmakers in the U.S. Congress from both political parties of accusing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump of delaying approval of the sale, "either to avoid upsetting Beijing while delicate trade negotiations are underway or to use it as a bargaining chip."

Asked to comment, Taiwan's defense ministry reiterated its stance Wednesday that its request to buy 66 F-16V fighter jets is being reviewed by the U.S. and that the ministry will make public more details of the deal as soon as it receives updates from the U.S.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安), meanwhile, said the request is now being reviewed by the U.S. authorities and both sides are maintaining close contact over the matter.

Asked about the issue, the two Taiwanese scholars specialized in defense issues pointed out that Congress is currently on its summer recess.

To show respect for Congress, the U.S. government will not announce its decision on whether to grant the sale anytime soon, said Chieh Chung (揭仲), a research fellow at the Association for Strategic Foresight, a local think tank.

Echoing Chieh's view, Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said Taiwan has officially submitted a Letter of Request (LOR) to the U.S. in February to buy the fighter planes.

The U.S. military needs to notify Congress whether it has decided to grant the sale within 150 days of receiving the LOR. According to Su, this could mean that the U.S. military has already made its decision.

Now the deal is awaiting approval from the U.S. National Security Council and the White House before they officially notify Congress of the decision to finalize it, he added.

(By Matt Yu, Elaine Hou and Joseph Yeh)
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