DTN News: Taiwan Has Still Not Heard From Obama On High-Priority F-16s
Source: DTN News / East-Asia-Intel.com
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 8, 2010: A U.S. official said
Taiwan's government is continuing to press the Obama administration to sell the island nation additional F-16 jet fighters to replace aging F-5s. However, the official said it was unclear whether the administration will grant the request due to White House's concern of further upsetting China.
Beijing cut off military relations with the United States after the administration announced in January that it would sell $6.4- billion in arms to Taiwan, including missile defenses and Black Hawk helicopters, but not the F-16s.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has told U.S. officials the weapons are needed to enhance the island’s defenses against a growing Chinese military threat.
The F-16s remain high on Ma’s priority list.
A recent Defense Intelligence Agency assessment said that Taiwan’s F-5s have “reached the end of their operational service life, and while the indigenously produced FCK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter is a large component of Taiwan's active fighter force, it lacks the capability for sustained sorties.”
Taiwan is seeking an additional 66 F-16s to supplement the 146 F-16s acquired in the 1990s. Taiwan is seeking the new jets before the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, closes the production line
Source: DTN News / East-Asia-Intel.com
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - May 8, 2010: A U.S. official said 
Taiwan's government is continuing to press the Obama administration to sell the island nation additional F-16 jet fighters to replace aging F-5s. However, the official said it was unclear whether the administration will grant the request due to White House's concern of further upsetting China.
Beijing cut off military relations with the United States after the administration announced in January that it would sell $6.4- billion in arms to Taiwan, including missile defenses and Black Hawk helicopters, but not the F-16s.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has told U.S. officials the weapons are needed to enhance the island’s defenses against a growing Chinese military threat.
The F-16s remain high on Ma’s priority list.
A recent Defense Intelligence Agency assessment said that Taiwan’s F-5s have “reached the end of their operational service life, and while the indigenously produced FCK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter is a large component of Taiwan's active fighter force, it lacks the capability for sustained sorties.”
Taiwan is seeking an additional 66 F-16s to supplement the 146 F-16s acquired in the 1990s. Taiwan is seeking the new jets before the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, closes the production line
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