Politics

US lawmakers seek details of Taiwan arms sales

President Ma Ying-jeou said Taiwan needs to purchase U.S. built F-16 C/Ds to enhance its defense capabilities. (CNA)

• Publication Date：11/20/2009
• Source： China Times

The U.S. government will have to detail its arms sales to Taiwan if a bill introduced to Congress by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and seven co-sponsors Nov. 18 is passed.

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the proposed act urges that such sales are critical to safeguard security across the Taiwan Strait.

H.R. 4102, citing the Taiwan Relations Act, states the U.S. will make defense weapons available to Taiwan and “both the President and the Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of such defense articles and services ‘based solely’ upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan.”

In addition to Ros-Lehtinen, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressional Taiwan Caucus co-chairs Shelley Berkley, Phil Gingrey and Lincoln Diaz-Balart also endorsed the measure.

The bill points out the TRA specifies that it is U.S. policy to provide Taiwan with sufficient arms of a defensive nature and the Congress should be notified of any such decisions. “The executive branch,” however, “has yet to send any arms transfer notification to Congress for Taiwan during calendar year 2009,” it says.

According to the bill, the administration has not decided on Taiwan’s request to purchase Blackhawk helicopters, diesel submarines, additional Patriot PAC-3 systems and OSPREY class minehunter coastal ships ORIOLE (MHC-55) and FALCON (MCH-59), authorized by Congress in the 2008 calendar year.

It specifically stresses Taiwan’s need to purchase advanced F-16 C/D fighter jets. “President Ma Ying-jeou has reiterated his administration’s desire to acquire U.S. built F-16 C/Ds” on several occasions, such as in an April 22 teleconference to mark the 30th anniversary of the TRA and during his transits in the U.S., the measure observes. But Taiwan is still waiting for an answer from Washington.

The bill quotes the March 2009 U.S. Department of Defense annual report on mainland China’s military, indicating “China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities.” It drew on the DOD’s analysis that China is posing a greater threat to Taiwan and could attempt to “deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict.”

The proposed act also quotes President Ma’s statement of Oct. 2: “Although there are pragmatic improvements in cross-strait ties, this doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.” Therefore, it asks the U.S. administration to take the arms sales issue seriously.

If passed, the bill would require the administration to provide detailed briefings to Congress within 90 days of its enactment on any discussions between the executive branch and the government of Taiwan and on any potential transfer of defensive weapons or services to Taiwan. Annual briefings would also be required. (LC-THN)