US Representative calls for F-16 sale to Taiwan

FAPA's press release on the subject:

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For Immediate Release
April 15, 2010, 2010
Contact: Iris Ho at (202) 547-3686


U.S. REPRESENTATIVE URGES ADMINISTRATION TO IMMEDIATELY SELL F16s TO TAIWAN

(Washington) -- In an extension of remarks, inserted into the Congressional Record on April 14, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) urged the Obama administration to “immediately move ahead with the sale of F16’s to Taiwan.” Rep. Granger whose Congressional Fort Worth, TX district harbors the Lockheed Martin plant where the F16’s are built, concluded her remarks with “One of the main reasons to move now is that the production of the F-16's is nearing its end, as more countries are switching to the advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.”

In November 2009, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) of the neighboring district introduced House Resolution 927 encouraging the sale of American made F-16 C/D fighter jets to Taiwan.

At the time, Rep. Barton stated “If we don't act quickly Lockheed Martin will be forced to shut down production of the F-16 and that would put almost 1,400 Texans out of work. This is a simple, smart way to save hundreds of jobs in Tarrant County during these tough economic times.” “Lockheed's F-16 program is responsible for more than 7,100 jobs at almost 200 locations nationwide,” he said.

FAPA President Bob Yang, Ph.D. says: “Moving forward with the F16s sale to Taiwan will help boost Taiwan’s dwindling air force and arrest the worrying trend of the cross-Strait military imbalance favoring China. The recent Defense Intelligence Agency’s report on Taiwan’s air force has indeed warned of Taiwan’s diminished ability to deny China’s efforts to attain air superiority. A militarily weak Taiwan would embolden China to wreak havoc on U.S. foreign policy goal of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific. In addition, the sale will help save a significant number of American jobs. It is a win-win situation.”

2010年4月15日

德州眾議員呼籲美國政府立即出售台灣F16戰機


德州共和黨籍眾議員凱瑞吉兒(Kay Granger, R-TX)於昨日(14日)在國會記錄內載入聲明，呼籲歐巴馬政府立即出售F16戰機給台灣。F16戰機的製造商洛克希德馬丁公司(Lockheed Martin)位於凱瑞吉兒議員選區內的沃思堡市(Fort Worth)。她在聲明內表示：「現在這個時候推動這項議題的主要原因之一是有鑑於F16的生產線即將進入尾聲，尤其當越來越多的國家開始轉換到F35聯合攻擊機。 」

與凱瑞吉兒議員選區相鄰的巴頓眾議員(Joe Barton, R-TX)在去年11月曾引進眾議院第927號決議案，鼓勵出售美製的F16 C/D型戰機給台灣。

巴頓眾議員當時表示：「如果我們不儘快採取行動，洛克希德馬丁公司會被迫關閉F16的生產線，近一千四百位德州居民則將被迫失業。在當前經濟不景氣的時候，這是一個簡單、聰明的方法來拯救泰潤郡(Tarrant County)的工作機會。洛克希德馬丁公司的F16計劃橫跨全國近200個地區，涵蓋超過七千一百個工作機會。」

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「出售F16給台灣將幫助台灣增長其每況愈下的空軍戰力，並能夠遏止向中國繼續傾斜的台海軍事失衡。日前美國國防情報局針對台灣空軍戰力所做的評估裡也警告台灣逐漸失去阻止中國獲取空軍戰力優勢的能力。一個軍力上薄弱的台灣將助長中國破壞美國在西太平洋維持和平、安全與穩定的外交方針。此外，這項軍售案將可幫忙挽救美國就業機會。對我們來說，這是一個雙贏的情況。」###


* * * *

HON. KAY GRANGER

OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

* Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue of concern to me and to my Taiwanese American constituents.

* Today's Taiwan is a strong ally of the United States that shares with us the ideals of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. Taiwan enjoys elements of independence, although Taiwan continues to be under an ominous shadow cast by the over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed in its direction. China continues to refuse to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, continues to claim Taiwan as a renegade province, and in 2005 passed an “Anti-Secession Law” that mandated military action if Taiwan moves towards formal and legal independence. The U.S. Congress quickly and strongly condemned China for this action with a vote on the House Floor.

* A 2009 Pentagon report on the military power of the PRC stated that “in the near-term, China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan’s pursuit of de jure independence.” It added that these “same capabilities could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict.”

* Madam Speaker, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act is the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations and the “Law of the Land.” It declares that it is the policy of the United States “to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.”

* Furthermore, section 3(b) of the Act stipulates that 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.

* On January 29, 2010 the Obama Administration notified Congress of a long-awaited package of arms sale to Taiwan, totaling US$ 6.4 billion. The package included 114 Patriot PAC-3 missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, 12 Harpoon missiles for training purposes, two Osprey-class refurbished mine hunters and military communication equipment. However, not included in the package were 66 F-16 C/D fighter aircraft, which Taiwan requested in 2006.

* Prior to the notification, in a report dated 21 January 2010, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency made an assessment of the status of Taiwan’s air defense. It concluded that Taiwan’s air defense is showing increasing vulnerability due to the aging of the air force fighter aircraft.

Madam Speaker, let me conclude my remarks with urging my esteemed colleagues to join me in requesting the Obama administration to immediately move ahead with the sale of F-16s to Taiwan at this time. One of the main reasons to move now is that the production of the F-16s is nearing its end, as more countries are switching to the advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

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