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Stiffing Taiwan on F-16s?

By John Tabin on 8.16.11 @ 11:42PM

TAIPEI - Bowing to Chinese pressure, the U.S. will deny Taiwan's request for 66 new F-16C/D fighter aircraft, a Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said.

"We are so disappointed in the United States," he said.

A U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) delegation arrived here last week to deliver the news and offer instead a retrofit package for older F-16A/Bs that includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

This hasn't been confirmed by US government sources yet -- the State Department insists that no decision has been made -- but it does jibe with what observers in Washington had been expecting based on administration statements. If this is indeed the Obama administration's decision, it's a missed opportunity that will make Taiwan policy more difficult for future administrations. I've linked to this before, but CSIS analyst Matt Anderson's argument for allowing the F-16 sale now is a good place to catch up if you're new to this issue.

View all comments (20) | Leave a comment

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 1:12AM

A Preview of The Paul Administration.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 6:38AM

You're Girlfriends In Israel Illegally Sold U.S. Weapons Technology To The Red Chinese, Jeopardizing Our Allies Taiwan.

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 11:53AM

And that problem was dealt with through negotiations between the US and Israel. You don't keep up, do you?

Zbig, I know he doesn't stand a chance. My bet is better than yours, though---an offer to stop posting vs. his stoppage. I note he hasn't taken me up.

I hope you are having a lovely summer. I had dinner with Tom Kratman on my B-day---that was a HELL of a lot of FUN!

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 12:05PM

I Do My Homework Israel Firster Traitor Bastard,Tool Job.

"For years, the U.S. government has expressed concerns over Israel illegally transferring technology to China. During the Gulf War, the U.S. gave Israel Patriot Missiles as protection against Iraqi Scud missiles. In 1992, a U.S. intelligence report revealed that soon after the end of the Gulf War, Israel had sold Patriot anti-missile data to China. Washington has also alleged on several occasions that Israel violated agreements by exporting to China restricted U.S. technology it buys with yearly U.S. subsidies. This was the case with the largely U.S.-funded Lavi fighter-plane program, the technology of which Israel passed to Beijing. China’s F-10 fighter jet is believed to be almost identical to the Lavi."

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 11:54AM

"Your Girlfriends." Work on it. Your vocabulary is going down faster than a Paulbot on a jihadist.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 12:11PM

Interesting, That MensaBoy Israel Firster Traitor Bastard,Tool Job Attempts To Play School Marm When He Runs Out Of Ammo.

Also, MensaBoy Constantly Has To Post Corrections For His Own Grammatical Errors.

The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Israel Firsters.

Rise Up In Rebellion.

Zbigniew Mazurak| 8.17.11 @ 3:44AM

Yeah. But, Occam, as I've told you, you don't need to worry about Ron Paul. Despite what some columnists, including Jim Antle, Tony Lee (a young, inexperienced guy), Pat Buchanan, and others claim, Ron Paul stands ZERO chance of winning a single GOP state caucus/primary, let alone the general election. He's a perennial loser. Like I said, I'll pay Jim Antle if Paul wins a single state caucus or primary.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 6:42AM

"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."
-Ronald Reagan

That Trumps Ziggy From Tehran.

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 11:54AM

Was this before or after Paul backstabbed Reagan?

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 12:18PM

It Was Both Before & After Stabbed The United States In The Back, Israel Firster Traitor Bastard, Tool Job.

The Tea Party Steps On Israel Firsters' Faces.

Rise Up In Rebellion.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 12:48PM

It Was Both Before & After Israel Stabbed The United States In The Back, Israel Firster Traitor Bastard, Tool Job.

The Tea Party Steps On Israel Firsters' Faces.

Rise Up In Rebellion.

PCC| 8.17.11 @ 4:47AM

Obama, the world's worst negotiator, strikes again. Quite apart from the moral imperative to honor our prior agreements with Taiwan and protect a democratic ally from the predations of an undemocratic regime, now is precisely the time to sell Taiwan everything they want and more if the U.S. is to have any leverage with China on any other issue.

Soothsayer| 8.17.11 @ 7:29AM

Taiwan first, then South Korea (China will make sure the North never gets "free"), the Philippines, Japan, and then...Australia.

Here they come. The Big Red Machine. A blind man can see them coming.

The Pacific will be their playground and full domain.

JimH| 8.17.11 @ 7:46AM

They keep buying our paper and we don't sell weapons to Taiwan. Pretty simple really. BTW, in a Paul administration there would be no need to Kow Tow to the PRC and it would certainly allow Taiwan to buy all it wants from American companies. It is unlikely that he would subsidize any of it however.

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 11:55AM

In a Paul administration we would been EMP'ed.

Clint| 8.17.11 @ 12:42PM

You're A Slandering Liar, Israel Firster Traitor Bastard,Tool Job.

Military Defense Spending and Budgets
USA - $515,400,000,000
China - $59,000,000,000

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Carpe Diem.

JimH| 8.17.11 @ 12:53PM

And I always thought PDR stood for Palin Derangement Syndrome.

Timothy L. Pennell| 8.17.11 @ 7:52AM

I'm sorry. Apparently, some of you haven't been paying attention.
It began with an insignificant little slight.
Upon entering the Oval Office, the new President promptly had the Bust of WINSTON CHURCHILL removed from his office, and RETURNED to our Ally, Great Britain.
I know. It seems like small potatoes, but, he was just getting started.
He RENEGED on an Obligation to put DEFENSIVE Early Warning Radar Facilities, in Poland and the Czech Republic. Choosing to placate the RUSSIANS. He gave these same RUSSIANS, the exact number of Nuclear Weapons that the British possessed, AND their Serial Numbers.
He forced the DALAI LAMA to come, and go, through the back door, and past the GARBAGE, when he came to the White House. "NO PICTURES!"
In South America, he sided with a HUGO CHAVEZ backed, Dictator For Life - Manuel Zelaya, over our DEMOCRATIC ALLY - Honduras, when the Honduran Government: Supreme Court/Legislature/Military removed Zelaya from the Presidential Palace, and then, from the Country, as well. He withheld Monetary Aid, that was promised them. He threatened SANCTIONS. All because they, using their COURTS and LEGISLATURE, prevented a COUP, by a MARXIST Chavez wannabe.
(Wikileaks has revealed that Obama did this, because he wanted better relations with CHAVEZ, and he wanted to SEND A SIGNAL to the Leftist Regimes, in South America, that they could DEAL with his Administration.)
Why did it take SO LONG to get Trade Deals going, with our ALLY - Colombia? Did a relationship exist between FARC and the Obama Administration?
Why did it take so long to get a Trade Deal done with our ALLY - South Korea?
Why is ISRAEL treated with DISDAIN, while Barack Hussein Obama goes, ON HIS KNEES, to APOLOGIZE to our ENEMIES, for the UNITED STATES?
I don't care WHERE he was born.
He is NOT one of us.
GOD help us through the next 15 Months.

Occam's Tool| 8.17.11 @ 11:55AM

Indeed, Tim, indeed. Barack is a friend to treason.

R E Malitz| 8.17.11 @ 11:12AM

Sir,
Once again, this is another example of "the full faith and credit of the USA" on display. Another reminder of the Church Amendment for all the world to see. How/why anyone would believe in the word of the USA government is beyond me.

Reagan Akbar!

Out. REM