Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) urged the US on Thursday to approve the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan, saying the nation needs to acquire the aircraft to defend itself against China's military threat.
Wu made the remarks during an interview with US cable TV station C-span, in the wake of a Defense News report that the administration of US President George W. Bush has refused to sell 66 F-16C/D fighter aircraft requested by Taiwan.
The report said Washington is unhappy with Taiwan's unwillingness to approve funding for diesel-electric submarines, P-3C maritime patrol aircraft and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-missile batteries from the US.
Wu said that the production of J-10A fighter aircraft by China has significantly upgraded China's air force and directly threatens the security of Taiwan.
With China continuing to expand its military deployments targeting Taiwan, the number of short-range ballistic missiles deployed by China along its coast opposite Taiwan has increased from several hundred to more than 1,000, Wu said. The number of submarines China has exceeded its needs, he said.
Wu said that not only Taiwan, but other countries have also felt China's military ambitions, citing the anti-satellite test recently carried out by China as an example.
Wu admitted that the Bush administration's refusal to approve the F-16C/D fighter aircraft sales is related to the delay of the previous arms procurement package, but said the legislature is expected to pass part of the budget in the new legislative session.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS