A leading US congressman said he would press US President Barack Obama to sell modern F-16 fighter planes to Taiwan.
Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida praised the Obama administration’s decision last week to sell anti-missile systems, helicopters, minesweeping ships and communications equipment to Taiwan, but added: “We must not forget that Taiwan’s top priority is the purchase of F-16 C/D fighters. We in Congress will continue to take all possible steps to support that transfer of weapons as well.”
In prepared remarks read to a Heritage Foundation seminar on the future of economic relations between the US and Taiwan, Diaz-Balart said that on a recent visit to Taiwan he had visited the air force base of the 455 Wing in Chiayi.
“I was impressed by the training facilities and flight simulators, but I was especially impressed by the skill, professionalism and esprit de corps of the pilots,” he said.
A severe snowstorm in Washington prevented the congressman from attending the seminar in person. His remarks were read by Walter Lohman, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center.
Diaz-Balart said: “Since 2006, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has budgeted billions of dollars to purchase additional F-16s to boost their air defense capabilities. That the United States has failed to approve these F-16 sales for years is a source of understandable disappointment to one of our closest friends and allies.”
Diaz-Balart is one of four co-chairs — two Democrats and two Republicans — of the Taiwan Caucus.
The economic seminar, co-hosted by the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America, was also addressed in person by Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄), senior adviser to the president and former premier.
Speaking on the economy, Diaz-Balart said: “Because I support free trade between free peoples, and because a free trade agreement is in the best interests of the United States and Taiwan, I strongly believe that it is time for the US Congress to press a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan.”
However, senior political analysts said later that Obama was “highly unlikely” to approve a free trade agreement with Taiwan during his first term and that in practical terms the issue had been sidelined.
However, Diaz-Balart seemed determined to improve relations on other fronts.
He said: “There are some issues concerning US-Taiwan relations that are matters of dignity for the people of Taiwan. Unfortunately, the rules of travel between Taipei and Washington for high-level officials are not only an antiquated waste of time, but they are an unnecessary indignity imposed on high-level Taiwan officials.”
Under the complex diplomatic agreement reached when Washington first recognized Beijing, the Taiwanese president and Cabinet-level officials cannot visit Washington and must follow highly restricted travel schedules in other parts of the country.
“These rules are holdovers from old policies and bad compromises, and they should be changed,” Diaz-Balart said.
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