American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt said yesterday that the US understands Taiwan’s wish to buy advanced F-16C/D fighters and is evaluating the request.
Burghardt was quoted in a statement released by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) after the two men met at Wang’s office. He made the remark in response to questions from Wang as to when the US government would approve the sale of F-16C/D fighter jets, the statement said.
The AIT chairman was quoted as saying the US government has yet to reach a final decision on Taiwan’s request to buy 66 F-16C/D fighters, but it would like to help the nation upgrade the F-16A/B fighters it sold to Taiwan in 1992 to extend their lifespan.
Wang later told reporters that the US was “giving the matter serious thought” and that he was optimistic that the sale would eventually be approved.
Asked by reporters outside Wang’s office about Washington’s position on Taiwan and China’s plan to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), Burghardt said that “it’s up to Taiwan to decide.”
Burghardt arrived in Taipei on Wednesday for a six-day visit. He is scheduled to meet President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) today to discuss the proposed ECFA, which the government hopes to sign with Beijing this month.
He discussed the proposed pact with Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) at the Presidential Office yesterday. Siew told Burghardt that once an ECFA is signed, Taiwan’s economic strategic status will be better positioned and foreign investment will increase, helping Taiwan play a more critical role in the regional economy.
Burghardt said the purpose of his visit was to brief people here on the US-China strategic and economic dialogue that began on May 24 in Beijing.
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