China warns US against selling F-16s to Taiwan

Associated Press ^ | 3/09/2010 | Associated Press

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

China on Tuesday warned the United States against any future arms sales to Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets the island has been pushing for in hopes of upgrading its air defense capabilities.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China is firmly opposed to U.S. sales of weapons to Taiwan, the self-ruled island that the communist government in Beijing regards as part of its territory and has vowed to conquer by force if necessary.

Asked to comment on reports that Taiwan is pushing to buy F-16s from the United States, Qin said Beijing hoped the U.S. would "take China's position seriously and respect China's core interests and major concerns."

Incensed by the January announcement that the U.S. planned to sell $6.4 billion in weapons to Taiwan, Beijing suspended military exchanges with the U.S. and has threatened to retaliate against U.S. aerospace firms involved in the deal.

Since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou came into office in May 2008, Taiwan has consistently pressed the United States to supply it with 66 F-16 C/Ds, an upgrade on its present inventory of F-16 A/Bs.

The issue was underscored last month when a Pentagon report painted a grim picture of Taiwan's air defense capabilities, saying that many of the island's 400 combat aircraft would not be available to help withstand an attack from rival China.

Many observers saw the study as justification for the possible sale of advanced fighter jets to Taiwan. The U.S. says the F-16 request remains under study

[Jet Jaguar]

F-16 ping

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Thanks for the numbers.Very Interesting.

[valkyry1]

//China... Give it thirty years.//

I agree largely. But if China sides up with N. Korea, Iran, Venezuela et al. Then it could get very dicey for us, even with our nukes. The wild card would be the Russkies and what they would do. My bet is when the chips are down, they side with the USA.

Bottom line we need to quit starving Taiwan of strategic military assets. In this theater the F-16 qualifies as that IMO.

[wolfpat]

For the record, the glow is blue, not green.

[185JHP]

bttt

[investigateworld]

FREE TRADE IS WONDERFUL BUMP

[Toddsterpatriot]

How’s that wayback machine working out for you?

[investigateworld]

So you are denying you mentioned the increased levels of homeownership here in the US was one of the benefits of Free Trade.

A Simple yes or no.

For the record: Yes or NO

[investigateworld]

I figure our nukes could kill about two thirds of their population and have the rest glowing green. Until China gets a decent missle shield and the ability to project its forces to our mainland we have very little to worry about. Give it thirty years.

The downside to that is the jet stream would bring the fallout back here.

Already Seattle's vehicles are covered with China's coal ash.

Hmmmmmm

(Rethink downside aspect)

[Toddsterpatriot]

So you are denying you mentioned the increased levels of homeownership here in the US was one of the benefits of Free Trade.

Rising levels of home ownership was not proof that free trade was a failure.