Taiwan Letter

Lawmakers aren't letting up their pressure on the Obama administration to sell F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Taiwan. In an Aug. 1 letter, 181 House representatives write:

We are writing to express our concerns about the military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait. In order to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, we believe it is critical for the United States to sell the government of Taiwan all the F-16C/Ds it requires. We respectfully request that your administration move quickly to announce its support for such a sale and submit the required Congressional Notification for a sale as soon as possible.

Successive reports issued by U.S. and Taiwanese defense authorities outline the threat Taiwan continues to face, including the continued military buildup by the People's Republic of China. For example, Beijing has more than 1,400 missiles aimed at Taiwan and continues to add to this total. China is forging ahead and deploying next-generation military technology. Military experts both in Taiwan and in the United States have raised alarms that Taiwan is losing its qualitative advantage in defensive arms that have long served as a primary military deterrent.

Due to impending changes within Taiwan's force structure, we respectfully urge a timely resolution to the aircraft sale issue. Within the next decade Taiwan will retire 70% of its fighter force and without new fighter aircraft and upgrades to its existing fleet of F-16s, Taiwan's situation could become quite precarious.

As you know, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (TRA) states that it is U.S. policy "to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means . . . of grave concern to the United States." We remain deeply concerned that delays in the decision on the sale of F-16s to Taiwan and subsequently notifying Congress of their sale could very well result in closure of the F-16 assembly line. In addition to enhancing Taiwan's security, approval of the sale would support thousands of American jobs -- especially well-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector.

In a statement issued yesterday, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council "welcomes" the lawmakers' letter:

The government of Taiwan has attempted to purchase 66 new F-16 C/D model fighters from the United States since 2006, but has found itself in the precarious position of the U.S. refusing to even consider the sale. These new fighters would replace Taiwan’s aging fleet of Vietnam War-era F-5s and Mirage 2000s, which are to be retired from active service in the coming decade.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has committed the Obama Administration to decide by October 1 what -- if anything -– the U.S. is prepared to do in order to help modernize Taiwan's air force. That includes making a decision on providing replacement F-16 C/Ds, as well as on upgrading Taiwan’s 145 existing F-16 A/Bs.

US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers noted that "again, the United States Congress has stepped forward to express its support for the US-Taiwan security commitment, which is an essential component of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The military threat from China toward democratic Taiwan continues to go unaddressed by the Obama Administration, thereby sending exactly the wrong signal to Beijing about American resolve in Asia."

Hammond-Chambers went on to note that "the F-16 production line in Texas is in need of new export orders if it is to remain open beyond fall 2013. Over 16,000 jobs nationally are dependent on F-16 production, with a heavy concentration in Florida and Ohio. The bleak unemployment picture in the United States underscores the significance of accepting Taiwan’s request, and of ensuring a future for the many domestic communities that rely on foreign sales of F-16s."

Congressional sources have said they expect the White House may -- as soon as this year -- propose upgrading Taiwan's F-16A/Bs, acquired in the early 1990s, and not act on the request for new F-16C/Ds, InsideDefense.com reported in April.