tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post1141714133567004323..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Bad News on F-16s =UPDATED=Michael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-21757937831531651502011-08-18T11:13:52.091+08:002011-08-18T11:13:52.091+08:00Mike: A follow-up on the UDN/CNA article regarding...Mike: A follow-up on the UDN/CNA article regarding the PAC-3s. All sources tell me the LOA is being prepared as we speak and that things are "on track." This discredits the claims in the UDN piece.<br /><br />http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/08/18/2003511007J. Michael Cole 寇謐將https://www.blogger.com/profile/12125612369359079447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-21667651636582693212011-08-18T10:43:41.473+08:002011-08-18T10:43:41.473+08:00"Poor Taiwan can't even afford any TVs to..."Poor Taiwan can't even afford any TVs to see Vietnam, Iraq, Afganistan, Finland, Israel show how small country can defend itself against much, much larger countries..."<br /><br />israel gets $3 billion+ in FREE aid from the u.s. everywhere. and technology transfers from u.s. military companies. which is how israel can produce her own advanced military arms for her own use and for export. <br /><br />everyone knows the u.s. military companies takes advantage of taiwan diplomatic isolation by inflating prices selling 2nd/3rd generation weaponry to taiwan. if the u.s. really cared to protect taiwan from china, they should sell taiwan the most advanced arms at a fair market price. if they TRULY care about taiwan they should give taiwan the same type of aid they give israel and also sell her weapons at a discount knowing taiwan is outspent by china's huge military budget.paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-675181725370216532011-08-16T21:41:31.078+08:002011-08-16T21:41:31.078+08:00http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perry-welco...http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perry-welcomed-chinese-firm-despite-security-concern/2011/08/10/gIQAAu80EJ_story_1.html<br /><br />Many Republican hopefuls for 2012 Presidential election have business connection with China, while the track record of Obama's "China policy" (if any) is at best Kowtow.<br /><br />Well, isn't Ma Ying Jeou also is "kowtow"ing to China?<br /><br />Do people really care? If Taiwanese do care, why is it Ma still enjoys a relatively ok approval rating ?green sleeeveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03952901787612003242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-36126437250284237672011-08-16T18:50:19.162+08:002011-08-16T18:50:19.162+08:00I don't think beef has anything to do with thi...I don't think beef has anything to do with this.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-25035931039717764652011-08-16T18:35:10.818+08:002011-08-16T18:35:10.818+08:00"he u.s. doesnt allow taiwan to buy everythin..."he u.s. doesnt allow taiwan to buy everything she wants to buy, like the f-16s and submarines."<br /><br />Meanwhile, Taiwanese don't want to import any US beef. They also stopped US banks from opening multiple branches until recently. They also didn't allow Warner Brothers to invest in a cable TV company in Taiwan. They used to tax foreigners at special high rates.<br /><br />Maybe Taiwan should have paid more attention to its allies in years past.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-71738344102005930422011-08-16T18:31:37.758+08:002011-08-16T18:31:37.758+08:00"Patriot missiles seem like such an odd idea ..."Patriot missiles seem like such an odd idea to me. They cost more than the Chinese missiles they are designed to shoot down! How is this a beneficial proposition to Taiwan at all except if the goal is to bankrupt it or to waste its military budget?"<br /><br />Taiwan is richer than China, or so I have been told. Also, the missiles will destroy things when they hit which may cost more than the difference in missile prices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-91020096542117978612011-08-16T18:30:19.984+08:002011-08-16T18:30:19.984+08:00"yea but unlike all those countries taiwan is..."yea but unlike all those countries taiwan is limited as to what it can buy from other countries besides the u.s. and the u.s. doesnt allow taiwan to buy everything she wants to buy, like the f-16s and submarines. and the u.s. and to an extent china wont allow taiwan to develop her own weaponry if they deem it to "offensive" and not defensive."<br /><br />Yes, poor Taiwan. Nothing to do. Nothing at all. Taiwan couldn't develop mines for use in the ocean, or harden its electrical system. No that's impossible Taiwan couldn't make sure the best and brightest went into the military by offering higher salaries...no that would require US approval, uh, or something.<br /><br />Taiwan can make HTC phones, but can't match soviet technology? Poor Taiwan. Sold out by America 30 years ago, and has had no time to develop any arms industry. Taiwan couldn't offer American weapons scientists large salaries to come and work for them...no that would cost money - let's sell the AEIGIS info on CD-ROMS to China instead...poor Taiwan.<br /><br />Poor Taiwan can't even afford any TVs to see Vietnam, Iraq, Afganistan, Finland, Israel show how small country can defend itself against much, much larger countries...<br /><br />Poor Taiwan thinks its better to fight to the last GI for independence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-23013706519947173392011-08-16T18:22:01.281+08:002011-08-16T18:22:01.281+08:00"we aren't getting the F-16s", wait ..."we aren't getting the F-16s", wait aren't you are still an American and an organizer for Democrats Abroad?<br /><br />How does a guy who heads Democrats abroad get away with using "we" when describing Taiwan?<br /><br />Oh, and you will still vote for Obama, though you'll rationalize it somehow...<br /><br />How do you deal with the DPP railing against anyone who has "foreign" connections, like a green card, or family with green-card...<br /><br />Consider this playful ribbing not an overly serious critique...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-62261108460829148512011-08-16T10:20:53.905+08:002011-08-16T10:20:53.905+08:00Patriot missiles seem like such an odd idea to me....Patriot missiles seem like such an odd idea to me. They cost more than the Chinese missiles they are designed to shoot down! How is this a beneficial proposition to Taiwan at all except if the goal is to bankrupt it or to waste its military budget?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-34766436799235096962011-08-16T07:52:50.435+08:002011-08-16T07:52:50.435+08:00@readin....
yea but unlike all those countries ta...@readin....<br /><br />yea but unlike all those countries taiwan is limited as to what it can buy from other countries besides the u.s. and the u.s. doesnt allow taiwan to buy everything she wants to buy, like the f-16s and submarines. and the u.s. and to an extent china wont allow taiwan to develop her own weaponry if they deem it to "offensive" and not defensive. we all know taiwan would've had nuclear weapons already if the u.s. hadnt butted in and made her stop development in 70s/80s. part of the deal was that the u.s. would sell taiwan the weapons she wants. now looks like the u.s. is backing down from that promise. good ole american foreign policy.<br /><br />if taiwan was allowed to freely buy whatever she wants from the international arms market she probably would be spending 3% or more of gdp on defense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-1491113573437566612011-08-15T23:13:16.647+08:002011-08-15T23:13:16.647+08:00"Or perhaps too many members of our policymak..."Or perhaps too many members of our policymaking class are doing business with China, and feel handing off Taipei will make Beijing turn up sweet."<br /><br />Well duh.<br /><br />The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the illegal (no congressional approval) war in Libya aren't the problem. They're expensive but they're not what's breaking the bank. <br /><br />Taiwan spends less than 3% of GDP on defense? That puts Taiwan behind Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Chad, Jordan, Georgia, Iraq, United States, Kuwait, Russia, Sinapore, Angola, Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Mauritania, Burundi, Colombia, Bahrain, Namibia, Djibouti, Kyrgystan, Chile, Sir Lanka, Morocco, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Greece, Brunei, and Botswana. <br /><br />Only a few of those, Israel and Georgia for example, face an existential threat the way Taiwan does.<br /><br />And you wonder why so many Americans are becoming convinced that Taiwan is unwilling to defend its sovereignty? As much as I favor Taiwan's continued independence, it seems to me that the only blood Taiwan is willing to spill to secure that independence is American blood. As an American, how can I ask my countrymen to die for Taiwan when Taiwanese won't do it?Readinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-62632367723254512222011-08-15T15:05:40.863+08:002011-08-15T15:05:40.863+08:00Whether the issue gets raised in the US election w...Whether the issue gets raised in the US election will all be down to the Republicans. It could be a useful issue for them if they frame it in the right way - Obama bowing to China instead of getting jobs for America.<br /><br />It's probably worth you emailing whoever becomes the Republican nominee, providing you don't focus on Taiwan being betrayed. Couch the argument in a way Joe Average might somehow care about.Rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-57130998132295229582011-08-15T10:21:08.854+08:002011-08-15T10:21:08.854+08:00Good question!Good question!Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-91788768877730127652011-08-15T10:05:57.069+08:002011-08-15T10:05:57.069+08:00what is tsai ying-wen's policy on taiwan's...what is tsai ying-wen's policy on taiwan's military? i havent read anything that explains her plans on taiwan's defense. is she supportive of a stronger taiwan military force? does she support increasing the budget to 3% of gdp or more? does she support taiwan developing her own arms and supporting local military industry? <br /><br />or is she and dpp similar to the democrats = weak on defense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-82153532255495756182011-08-15T09:10:53.480+08:002011-08-15T09:10:53.480+08:00Saw that. So true. Should have burned the aircraft...Saw that. So true. Should have burned the aircraft's carcass with drone attacks.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-28639054138508415022011-08-15T08:45:06.614+08:002011-08-15T08:45:06.614+08:00I guess you have also read this news item, but I t...I guess you have also read this news item, but I think it really underlines how the US is busy hunting muslims and not wasting a single brain cell on China.<br /><br />http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/14/us-pakistan-china-usa-idUSTRE77D2BT20110814Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com