- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
- Messages
- 18,486
- Points
- 113
KNN...if I am Taiwan, i go source elsewhere...
yah but no decent country want / dare to sell them anything more than a pencil lest they anger China...
soooo sad.
====
Taiwan heartened despite second-best F-16 deal
TAIPEI - Washington's offer to upgrade Taiwan's fighter jets may mean little in any war with China, but represents a valuable sign of US commitment to help the island's defence, observers and media said Thursday.
The US government announced Wednesday it would equip Taiwan's 146 US-made F-16 A/Bs with new technologies in a $5.85 billion deal, but the move fell short of the island's fervent wish for 66 new and more powerful F-16 C/Ds.
"The upgraded F16 A/Bs are not enough for Taiwan as China is targeting more missiles at Taiwan and upgrading its own fighter jets every year," said Shuai Hua-ming, a military expert and lawmaker for the ruling Kuomintang party.
Taiwan applied in 2007 to buy the F-16 C/D fighters, which have better radar and more powerful weapons systems than its F-16 A/Bs, in response to China's growing military muscle.
Defence experts in the United States have argued that Taiwan's jets, once upgraded, will be nearly as capable as the wished-for F-16 C/Ds.
However, Taiwanese media voiced doubts that it mattered much in the scheme of things, considering the massive expansion of China's military that has taken place in recent times.
"The arms sale has more political implications than military implications," said the mass-circulation United Daily News. "If China and Taiwan go to war, even F16 C/Ds will not be enough."
China has the world's second-largest economy and is a major holder of US debt, making Washington's policy-making on Taiwan more sensitive than ever.
"Washington has to consider Beijing's economic clout. It can keep the F16 C/D sale as a bargain chip for its future dealing with Beijing," Shuai, the lawmaker, told AFP.
China expressed "great indignation" Thursday over the deal, summoning the US ambassador and warning the move would undermine relations.
But some observers in Taiwan said the US offer was a piece of diplomatic craftmanship which showed commitment to the defence of democratic Taiwan, while averting what would have been a furious China reaction over a sale.
"This is a US compromise to satisfy some of Taiwan's defence needs and maintain friendly ties with Taiwan without touching China's bottom-line by selling new jets," said Kenneth Wang, a military expert at Tamkang University.
The United States shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, but is under obligation by US law to provide the island with sufficient defensive means.
"The deal shows that the US is committed to (maintaining) Taiwan's security and the military balance in the Taiwan Strait," said lawmaker Lin Yu-fang.
yah but no decent country want / dare to sell them anything more than a pencil lest they anger China...
soooo sad.
====
Taiwan heartened despite second-best F-16 deal
TAIPEI - Washington's offer to upgrade Taiwan's fighter jets may mean little in any war with China, but represents a valuable sign of US commitment to help the island's defence, observers and media said Thursday.
The US government announced Wednesday it would equip Taiwan's 146 US-made F-16 A/Bs with new technologies in a $5.85 billion deal, but the move fell short of the island's fervent wish for 66 new and more powerful F-16 C/Ds.
"The upgraded F16 A/Bs are not enough for Taiwan as China is targeting more missiles at Taiwan and upgrading its own fighter jets every year," said Shuai Hua-ming, a military expert and lawmaker for the ruling Kuomintang party.
Taiwan applied in 2007 to buy the F-16 C/D fighters, which have better radar and more powerful weapons systems than its F-16 A/Bs, in response to China's growing military muscle.
Defence experts in the United States have argued that Taiwan's jets, once upgraded, will be nearly as capable as the wished-for F-16 C/Ds.
However, Taiwanese media voiced doubts that it mattered much in the scheme of things, considering the massive expansion of China's military that has taken place in recent times.
"The arms sale has more political implications than military implications," said the mass-circulation United Daily News. "If China and Taiwan go to war, even F16 C/Ds will not be enough."
China has the world's second-largest economy and is a major holder of US debt, making Washington's policy-making on Taiwan more sensitive than ever.
"Washington has to consider Beijing's economic clout. It can keep the F16 C/D sale as a bargain chip for its future dealing with Beijing," Shuai, the lawmaker, told AFP.
China expressed "great indignation" Thursday over the deal, summoning the US ambassador and warning the move would undermine relations.
But some observers in Taiwan said the US offer was a piece of diplomatic craftmanship which showed commitment to the defence of democratic Taiwan, while averting what would have been a furious China reaction over a sale.
"This is a US compromise to satisfy some of Taiwan's defence needs and maintain friendly ties with Taiwan without touching China's bottom-line by selling new jets," said Kenneth Wang, a military expert at Tamkang University.
The United States shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, but is under obligation by US law to provide the island with sufficient defensive means.
"The deal shows that the US is committed to (maintaining) Taiwan's security and the military balance in the Taiwan Strait," said lawmaker Lin Yu-fang.
