http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/taiwan/ en-us Sun, 3 Jan 2010 23:23:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420249/posts Raytheon, the world's largest missile maker, has won a $1.1 billion order from Taiwan for new Patriot missile systems. The order covers an initial ground-system hardware contract valued at $965.6 million and a $134 million contract for spares. The order, according to a statement by Raytheon, will include advances in technology, improved man-machine interface and reduced lifecycle costs. The deal has been in the making since October 2008 when the U.S. Defense Department proposed a $6.46 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, including the most advanced Patriot anti-missile system. Raytheon said the new Patriot fire units will be produced in... Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420249/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 23:23:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419178/posts The head of a prominent U.S. business group accused President Barack Obama of compromising Taiwan's security to promote U.S. ties with China. Self-ruled Taiwan, which China deems a wayward province, is watching "with increased exasperation," said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. The council's board chairman is Paul Wolfowitz, a former World Bank president and former U.S. deputy secretary of defense. The group long has advocated arms sales to Taipei, including meeting its wish to buy 66 advanced Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter jets to update its F-16 fleet. The council represents scores of companies doing business with Taiwan,... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419178/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:19:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407723/posts A new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows that countries with restrictive abortion laws are often the leaders in reducing maternal mortality, and those with permissive laws often lag. According to the report, the pro-life nation of Ireland has topped the global rankings once again with the best maternal health performance. Abortion advocates have attempted to push an international "right to abortion," claiming that restrictive laws force women to seek unsafe abortion, which in turn leads to high maternal mortality. In October, the Guttmacher Institute released a report on global abortion calling on states to "expand access to... Taiwan News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407723/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:30:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407123/posts 12/13/2009 German-made submarines in latest US arms package The United States is preparing to sell German-made submarines to Taiwan as part of its latest arms package. That's according to the US-based Foreign Policy magazine, which was quoted on the website of Hong-Kong newspaper Singtao on Sunday. Foreign Policy reported that the United States may make an announcement on its latest arms deal to Taiwan before next Friday, when President Barack Obama will attend the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen. The package is not expected to include F-16C/D fighter jets but should include 60 Black Hawk helicopters. News agency Reuters... Radio Taiwan International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407123/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:11:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406004/posts The growth of the Chinese navy, seen from the Chinese point of view, is the result of China's three decades of economic growth and modernization. This economic growth depends on massive imports of raw materials, particularly oil and ores, especially iron ore. While China's economy could continue to grow without its massive exports, that economy would collapse without the imports. Thus China has gone from being classic "Continental Power" (that was not dependent on seaborne commerce), to a maritime power, that must maintain access to oceanic supply routes. Thus China needs a navy to help preserve that access. Russia, the... The Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406004/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:30:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406478/posts Taiwan is probing allegations that local companies might have sold specialised equipment to Iran that could be used to make nuclear weapons, a report said Saturday. "We are looking into the matter," Hsu Chun-fang, a spokesperson for Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying without elaborating. Export of sensitive items or to sensitive regions are restricted by the bureau and require permits, officials said. Hsu was responding to a Daily Telegraph report that Iran's defence officials have met Taiwan-based firms to purchase hundreds of pressure transducers that can be used to make weapons-grade uranium.... Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406478/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:34:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404869/posts The Obama administration is moving toward possible new arms sales to Taiwan, including design work on diesel-electric submarines, a U.S. State Department official told Reuters on Wednesday. China strongly opposes arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a renegade province, as interference in its domestic affairs. New submarines could help challenge any Chinese seaborne assault on the self-governing island, which Beijing reserves the right to take by force. Also progressing toward notification to the U.S. Congress is the sale to Taiwan of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, said Robert Kovac, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for defense trade. In... The Star Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404869/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:28:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396425/posts World’s first anti-ship ballistic missile could prevent US from protecting Taiwan. Internet censorship came up, as did global warming and trade sanctions. But one subject that was not raised – publicly at least – before US President Barack Obama left Beijing for South Korea today was China's apparent attempt to scare the US Navy out of the western Pacific Ocean. FirstPost http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396425/posts#comment Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:51:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395771/posts China appears to be having success in using diplomacy to disarm Taiwan (which it considers a rebellion province, and threatens to take by force, if peaceful means fail.) For decades, China has been putting economic and diplomatic pressure on other nations to prevent them from supplying Taiwan with weapons. Even the U.S. has constantly been pressured, despite the fact that there is a three decade old American law that mandates U.S. sales of weapons to Taiwan. But China has leaned on the U.S. despite that law, and has succeeded in stalling Taiwanese efforts to buy 66 more F-16 fighters. While... Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395771/posts#comment Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:58:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394157/posts During his first visit to Asia as US president, Barack Obama issued a joint statement with Chinese President Hu Jintao. References to Taiwan in the statement suggest that the situation is evolving in a direction unfavorable to the country. Obviously this situation is not good for Taiwan. The Obama-Hu talks have indeed been a big diplomatic victory for China. With regard to Taiwan, however, the Ma administration has accepted the idea of “one China.” At the same time, it is dismantling Taiwan’s strongest line of defense — its democracy. When so much has been given away, what grounds can we... Taipei Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394157/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:32:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393222/posts US eases Taiwan’s fears over China TAIPEI, Nov 24 — The United States has moved quickly to reassure Taiwan, less than a week after President Barack Obama’s visit to China, by sending a senior diplomat to Taipei to allay fears that the island’s interests have been compromised.Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy here, flew into Taipei on Sunday, just five days after Obama met Chinese President Hu Jintao last Tuesday. “President Obama did not in any way change our long-standing position on Taiwan,” Burghardt told reporters after meeting Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng... The Malaysian Insider (in English) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393222/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:24:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390231/posts President Obama hosted a “townhall” meeting in Shanghai, accepting questions from his Chinese audience. One questioner gave Obama the opening to discuss the prospect of arms sales to Taiwan, an issue that is sure to arise when the President meets with Hu Jintao in Beijing. Unfortunately, rather than forthrightly stating that the United States, in line with longstanding policy and the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), was prepared to sell Taiwan defensive weapons, President Obama said nothing at all. Instead, he chose to dodge the question, noting that the US favored “dialogue and negotiations.” The problem is that this answer does... Heritage Foundation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390231/posts#comment Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:28:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381959/posts Taiwan shelves 9 Mirage jets due to lack of spare parts Asia-Pacific News Taipei The Taiwan Air Force has shelved nine Mirage 2000-5 jets due to a lack of spare parts supplied by France, a newspaper report said Sunday. The China Times quoted an unnamed Air Force official as saying that the jets had been mothballed with assistance from France. The planes had undergone tests so that they could be reactivated, even for combat missions, he said. The delivery of pare parts could resume by the year-end, the official said. The China Times report comes one month after lawmaker Lin... Deutsche Presse-Agentur http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381959/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 06:20:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378949/posts <p>Taiwan said Wednesday that its giant neighbour China has started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts have said could raise military tensions in the region. The head of Taiwan's National Security Bureau told parliament construction of the carrier had begun, Lin Yu-fang, a legislator of the ruling Kuomintang party, told AFP.</p> AFP via Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378949/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 06:29:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378302/posts Taiwan says China starts building first aircraft carrier Agence France-Presse First Posted 19:44:00 11/04/2009 Filed Under: Military, Foreign affairs & international relations TAIPEI – Taiwan said Wednesday that its giant neighbor China has started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts have said could raise military tensions in the region. The head of Taiwan's National Security Bureau told parliament construction of the carrier had begun, Lin Yu-fang, a legislator of the ruling Kuomintang party, told AFP. However, the security chief, Tsai Teh-sheng said the carrier's construction "has not been smooth" and that the Chinese navy may struggle to put... Agence France-Presse (AFP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2378302/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:05:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2378183/posts It’s time for a science experiment! In a large plastic bag, collect the following: the solid bits from the kitty litter, or the equivalent output from Fido, a week’s worth of table scraps, some wilted cabbage (not lettuce), whatever juice is left at the bottom of a few cans, and a pound or two of firm tofu. Tie the bag loosely and stick it under the sun, preferably somewhere rats or raccoons can find it and burrow around a bit. If it can be managed, encourage a few cockroaches and flies to take up residence. If the daytime temperature is... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2378183/posts#comment Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:58:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2369058/posts Taiwan's air force said Friday it was planning to upgrade the island's U.S.-made and indigenous fighter jets to maintain the balance of air power across the Taiwan Strait. The upgrades are aimed at boosting the fighters' performance and avoid a "gap in Taiwan's war-fighting capabilities," the island's semi- official Central News Agency reported Friday. The upgrades would seek to address "the trend of the tipping of the military balance in the Taiwan Strait," the air force reportedly said, without elaborating. On Thursday Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu told lawmakers that the military was considering mothballing the some 60 French-made Mirage models... AP via Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2369058/posts#comment Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:20:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368994/posts Defense ministry to consider proposal to mothball Mirage fighters Central News Agency 2009-10-22 06:34 PM Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu promised Thursday to consider a proposal to mothball the Air Force's Mirage fighter jets in light of their low performance and high maintenance costs. Kao said the Ministry of National Defense (MND) will carefully evaluate issues such as how to maintain the balance of combat capabilities across the Taiwan Strait, before making a decision on the matter. In the meantime, the Air Force will work with the French manufacturer in an effort to fix the... Central News Agency,Taiwan http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368994/posts#comment Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:07:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366651/posts China pointing about 1,500 missiles at Taiwan: Taipei official by Staff Writers Taipei (AFP) Oct 19, 2009 China now has about 1,500 missiles pointed at Taiwan, with no signs that the build-up is about to stop anytime soon, a spokesman for the island's government said Monday. The figure includes short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, the defence ministry spokesman told AFP on condition of anonymity. "The number of missiles has been rising. We don't know when it will stop increasing," said the spokesman. He was speaking ahead of the release Tuesday of the ministry's annual report, which will include an... Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366651/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:05:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366442/posts China has trained some 400,000 troops for an amphibious takeover of Taiwan and could resort to using commercial and cargo ships to ferry soldiers and arms in a surprise attack on the island, according to a key defense report issued by Taiwan's military on Tuesday. The National Defense Report of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 2009, warns of an ongoing military buildup across the Taiwan Strait, even amid warming cross-strait relations under President Ma Ying-jeou, who took office last year on vows to improve ties with China. Published roughly once every two years, the document is considered Taiwan's defense white... AP via Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366442/posts#comment Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:35:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364315/posts National Security: On the eve of a visit by China's No. 2 ranking military officer, the Obama administration loosens export controls on technology that will benefit Chinese missile development. It's deja vu all over again. The Pentagon has announced that Chinese Gen. Xu Caihou will visit the United States and meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Oct. 26. Xu is vice chairman of the People's Liberation Army Central Military Commission. While here, Xu will visit American military installations around the U.S., including the U.S. Pacific Command. Perhaps Xu will bring with him a note of thanks for the administration's... Investor;s Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364315/posts#comment Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:37:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364134/posts Taiwan has carried out its largest-ever missile exercise, less than a fortnight after China showed off advanced ballistic weaponry in a massive National Day parade, local media said Wednesday. The missiles were launched on Tuesday from the secretive and tightly guarded Chiupeng base in southern Taiwan and could strike major Chinese cities, the United Daily News reported. President Ma Ying-jeou, who has been criticised for being too friendly with China, was among the observers of the exercise, the paper said, citing a "reliable military source". The test came after China, which has vowed to take back Taiwan, celebrated 60 years... Space War http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364134/posts#comment Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:26:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358797/posts Taiwan in talks with Germany over four subs: report by Staff Writers Taipei (AFP) Oct 7, 2009 Taiwan is considering purchasing four German-built submarines that had been rejected by the Greek Navy, a report said Wednesday. According to Next Magazine, Taiwan's military approached Kiel-based shipbuilder Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) for four Class 214s after Athens rejected them for not meeting standard requirements. "The defence ministry has sent personnel to Germany, who have discussed a deal with the shipbuilder," the popular Taipei-based weekly said, citing an unnamed military source. Taiwan's defence ministry said it was not aware of the report and would... Agence France Presse (AFP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358797/posts#comment Fri, 9 Oct 2009 18:46:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352037/posts <p>Upgraded missiles will feature prominently in China's military parade on Thursday which celebrates 60 years of Communist Party rule, the Xinhua news agency said, citing a commander of the service that controls nuclear weapons.</p> <p>Foreign observers will be watching to see what weapons the People's Liberation Army shows off.</p> Newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352037/posts#comment Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:05:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349849/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Jury Convicts Defense Department Official of Unlawful Communication of Classified Information and Making False Statements James Wilbur Fondren Jr., was convicted by a federal jury today on charges involving providing classified information to a man working with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and lying to the FBI about it. Fondren was convicted of one count of unlawfully communicating classified information to an agent of a foreign government and two counts of making false statements to the FBI. He was acquitted of two unlawful communication of classified information, one count of conspiracy to... US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349849/posts#comment Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:16:11 GMT