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Cornyn, Menendez Push to Mandate Sale of F-16 Fighters to Taiwan
Legislation Would Bolster Ability of Our Longstanding Strategic Partner to Defend Itself
WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced legislation to require the Obama Administration to sell 66 new F-16C/D multirole fighter jets to Taiwan. The Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011 will help bring the United States into compliance with its legal obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide Taiwan with the military equipment it needs to maintain its self-defense capabilities.
“This sale is a win-win, in strengthening the national security of our friend Taiwan as well as our own, and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S.,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Saying no here would mean granting Communist China substantial sway over American foreign policy, putting us on a very slippery slope.”
“Providing the military resources Taiwan needs is in the vital security interest of Taiwan, the national security interest of the United States, and is compelled by the Taiwan Relations Act,” Sen. Menendez said. “Taiwanese pilots flying Taiwanese fighter aircraft manufactured in the United States represent the best first line of defense for our democratic ally, and delaying the decision to sell F-16s to Taiwan could result in the closure of the F-16 production line, which would cost New Jersey 750 manufacturing jobs.”
Several recent letters to the President have demonstrated overwhelming bipartisan congressional support for the sale of new F-16C/Ds to Taiwan. On August 1, 181 bipartisan House members sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to approve the sale of F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan. On May 26 a bipartisan letter signed by 45 Senators called on President Obama him to quickly notify Congress of the sale of 66 F-16C/Ds to Taiwan. Two other Senators have also written letters to the Administration in support of this sale.
A recent study done by a private consulting firm estimates that the sale of 66 new F-16 aircraft to Taiwan would generate approximately $8.7 billion in economic output and nearly 88,000 ‘person-years’ of employment across the U.S.
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Reuters report.
Text of bill
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How wonderful that Taiwan has become not only a pawn in international politics, but American domestic politics as well.
ReplyDeleteThe whole back-story to the administrations heal-dragging on the arms sale is a good speculation. Coming at the same time (more or less) that the PRC has increased its naval presence in the South China sea and harassing vessels from the Philippines and Vietnam for violating what it (and only it) claims as their territory. Of note is SoS Clintons downplaying of the whole fracas and waging a motherly finger at the PRC stating "now, you just behave yourself" while at the same time reassuring the wary leaders of Vietnam, the Philippines and others that she has been reassured that the PRC means no aggression. At around the same time, the Taipei Times was reporting on reports from various departments in the US government as saying they were told to halt all discussions on the arms sale and more or less it was effectively dead and blaming the Taiwanese government as killing it. Personally, I would love to know how much money the PRC gives or gave to her husbands foundation.
It is all but a given that the current American administration has given up on Taiwan, and by extension all nations in the Western Pacific and is leaving them to their fate at the hands of the PRC. Anyone can preach all they want about the PRC claiming to be a "peaceful power" but anyone who has spent a few hours reading the Art of War knows that to be complete hogwash.
Exactly how and why the PRC has become so effective in controlling American policy making needs to be a part of a congressional hearing. Spare me the "trillion dollar investment" in the US economy or the cheap goods. If those are indeed the key reasons, then the PRC, the Americans, and the EU need to ask each other and themselves who needs who the most? and can we live without each other? When those questions get answered, then and only then will Taiwan's fate be decided. If it has not already.
Sorry for the long-winded comment.
Respectfully.
James
Scary to think that the best argument US pols have to create jobs is to revive the military-industrial complex.
ReplyDelete