Taiwan may seek US-made F-35 stealth jet

[LETHALFORCE]

Taiwan may seek US-made F-35 stealth jet


Taiwan will likely seek state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets from the US, a top official was quoted as saying Monday, amid fears on the island that Washington may refuse to sell it F-16 jets.

"In the future Taiwan will need F-35s", Deputy Defence Minister Andrew Yang said during a visit to the United States, according to the state-owned Central News Agency.

Yang, who is attending a two-day Taiwan-US defence industry conference, said Taiwan would need the F-35s -- a fifth-generation multirole fighter with advanced stealth capabilities -- no matter the outcome of the F-16 deal.

Asked to comment on the report, Taiwan's defence ministry spokesman David Lo reiterated Taiwan's long-stated wish that the United States provide it with sufficient defence weapons.

The conference is an annual event aimed at addressing the future of Taiwan's defence cooperation with the United States, the defence procurement process, and the island's defence and national security needs.

The visit comes with Washington expected to announce its decision soon on the sale of new F-16s to the island.

There were renewed calls for the US to help Taipei update its fleet last week after two Vietnam War-era jets crashed, killing all three pilots.

A US congressional source said Friday that Washington has decided not to sell Taiwan F-16 C/D, the improved version of F-16 A/B now serving the Taiwanese air force, for fear of upsetting Beijing.

But the source said Washington will help Taipei upgrade its 146 US-made F-16 A/Bs to the F-16 C/D levels.

Taipei applied in 2007 to buy 66 F-16 C/D fighters, which have better radars and more powerful weapon systems, in response to China's growing military muscle.

Washington recognises Beijing rather than Taipei but remains a leading arms supplier to the island.

Ties between China and Taiwan have improved since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on promises of ramping up trade links and allowing in more Chinese tourists.

But Beijing has refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan even though the island has ruled itself for more than six decades since their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

 

[cir]

By the time our brothers in Taiwan lay their hands on the F-35s, China will be an economy that is twice as large as the US' and be flying J-30s or J-40s.

Taiwan can't buy the F-16C/Ds they want this time. In 5 years, it won't be able to purchase any weapons (except some spare parts, and that is because the Mainland allows it behind the closed doors) from any country, the US included.

The days when the US can do what it wants as regards weapons sales to Taiwan are gone.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

By the time our brothers in Taiwan lay their hands on the F-35s, China will be an economy that is twice as large as the US' and be flying J-30s or J-40s.

Taiwan can't buy the F-16C/Ds they want this time. In 5 years, it won't be able to purchase any weapons (except some spare parts, and that is because the Mainland allows it behind the closed doors) from any country, the US included.

The days when the US can do what it wants as regards weapons sales to Taiwan are gone.

Is this a challenge to USA you are confident in this??

 

[huaxia rox]

the sooner taiwan can get F-35 and the likes the quicker the PLA can become real powerful and those in prc who still think we can rise up in a peaceful world without the need of protecting our national interests properly can wake up.

 

[JayATL]

China has infiltrated the Taiwan govt , recently a high level politician was caught giving US secrets away. BTW on a side note- whats up with elected officials, high level ones in China and Taiwan- how come they are such traitors. Chinese high level officials defect or are caught spying for other governments a lot... I'm talking about cabinet level appointees... strange to see what you would imagine high level govt officials - folks ought being most patriotic and loyal to ones country get into such acts .

anyways , back on topic- US is hesitant about High tech transfers because of Chinese infiltration of Taiwan soceity...

In late July, for example, Taiwanese General Lo Hsien-che was sentenced to life in prison for handing over military secrets to Beijing. The case shocked the nation. But it wasn't necessarily surprising to some observers.

'Anyone who has followed developments in Taiwan over the years knows how deeply Chinese forces have infiltrated Taiwan's military, especially its senior officers,' noted Taiwan-based journalist and security analyst J. Michael Cole in a recent opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal. He noted that, because Taiwan is so infested with Chinese spies, any US weapons sales to the nation could result in sensitive military secrets ending up in Beijing.

http://the-diplomat.com/2011/09/19/chinas-growing-spy-threat/