US panel calls for arms sale approval

At a meeting the commission held with then National Security Council secretary-general Mark Chen (陳唐山) in Taipei in August, Chen told the panel "that Taiwan is simply incapable of effectively countering China's surge in [military] capabilities and resources," the report says.

"Taiwan's Defense Minister, Lee Tien-yu [李天羽], reinforced Secretary General Chen's remarks, saying that in every war game Taiwan has conducted, it has lost to the PLA when it has fought alone," the report recalls.

On the F-16s, the report had little to say other than noting that the Legislative Yuan has approved initial funding, but that the Bush administration has not approved the request.

Commission members were planning to meet through this weekend to vote on a final report. They have scheduled a Nov. 14 press conference to release their findings and recommendations.