Sat, Jul 19, 2008 - Page 3 News List

US refuses to concede arms sale freeze

CAUSE FOR CONCERN An expert said that the suspension of weapons sales to Taipei by Washington would serve as a signal that US influence was on the decline

By Charles Snyder and Shih Hsiu-Chuan  /  STAFF REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON AND TAIPEI

He said he would tell US officials clearly that Taiwan was serious about investing in its defense when he leaves for the US for a visit at the invitation of the Heritage Foundation next week.

A legislative source with knowledge of the matter said that National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi (蘇起) had recently briefed Wang on Ma’s position on the arms sales.

The source said Ma hoped the US could lift its freeze on sales to Taiwan.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) said the US had decided to put off approving arms sales to Taiwan because it needed China’s cooperation on many important global issues.

KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) blamed the DPP for the suspension of US arms sales, saying the US’ willingness to sell weapons to Taiwan was more or less influenced by the continuous rumors created by the DPP that the KMT had no intention of making the purchase.

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